11-Party Alliance to Hold Rallies in Five Districts During Long March Towards Rangpur

The 11-party opposition alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, is set to hold a long march towards Rangpur on September 19 to press home its seven-point charter of demands.

The program will commence with an inaugural rally at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami, announced the schedule to reporters following an emergency liaison committee preparation meeting at the opposition leader's official residence on Minto Road.

According to the itinerary, the long march will start at 7:00 AM on September 19 from Manik Mia Avenue, concluding its opening session by 8:00 AM. En route to Rangpur, the convoy will stop for street rallies in five districts: Bhograpara in Gazipur, Nagar Jalfai in Tangail, Sirajganj intersection, Charmatha in Bogura, and Palashbari in Gaibandha. The march will culminate with a grand closing rally at the Rangpur Zilla School ground. Azad noted that the alliance's previous six-point demand has now been expanded to a seven-point charter by incorporating demands to halt corruption, illegal land grabbing, and extortion.

Criticizing the government's handling of national crises, Azad accused the administration of failing to address mounting shortages of fuel, gas, and fertilizers, warning that ongoing gas crises could shut down factories and cripple the country's apparel sector by driving export orders to neighboring nations.

He also expressed grave concern over deteriorating law and order, citing incidents of enforced disappearances, killings, and attacks on opposition activists. Pointing out that the government has repeatedly ignored opposition proposals for broad-based national consensus to resolve economic and political challenges, Azad urged immediate corrective actions. The press briefing was attended by prominent alliance leaders, including National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Joint Secretary General Tofazzal Hossain Miyazi, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan.