Bangladesh

Jamaat Chief Warns Eight-Point Demands Could Turn Into Single Demand

19 September 2026 20:09 PM

NEWS DESK

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said his party’s ongoing movement is not aimed at serving the interests of any particular political party or group, but at securing what he described as the demands of the country’s 180 million people.

“We have taken to the streets to establish the demands of 180 million people, not for any particular party or group. InshaAllah, we will return home only after achieving those demands,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman made the remarks at a roadside rally at the Hatikumrul intersection in Sirajganj around 2pm on Saturday, during a long march from Dhaka to Rangpur.

He warned that the situation could become “very serious” if the movement’s eight-point demands were reduced to a single demand.

“Before facing such a situation, the government should implement the eight-point demands. If it fails to accept them, we will take to the streets with a single demand. We will not back down,” he said.

The opposition leader claimed that large numbers of people standing along both sides of the road had shown one finger while he was travelling to the rally, which he interpreted as support for a single demand.

Addressing the crowd, he asked whether they also wanted a single demand. The crowd responded affirmatively.

“We have come before you today with eight demands. If these are not implemented, the eight demands could turn into one at any time,” Shafiqur Rahman said. He urged supporters to prepare themselves and convey the movement’s message to households across the country.

At the rally, Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam accused the BNP of introducing one-party rule through what he described as politicisation across different sectors.

“But we are not afraid because we are the children of 2024,” Nahid said, referring to the mass uprising of 2024. “You showed in 2024 that there is no place for any authoritarianism in Bangladesh.”

Nahid warned that the current government could become authoritarian if it failed to ensure supplies of fuel, gas, electricity and fertiliser for farmers.

“We are marching to establish these demands. But very soon, there will be a grand rally in Dhaka. I urge everyone to prepare,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer eight-point demands