Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of creating a political crisis by failing to implement the referendum verdict also warning that a larger movement would follow if demands remain unmet.
Speaking as chief guest at the closing rally of the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-Chattogram long march on Saturday night, Rahman said the march was meant to warn the government but future actions would be stronger. The rally held at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram was presided over by LDP Chairman Dr. Col. (Retd.) Oli Ahmed.
Rahman claimed the government had ignored the referendum result, in which he said 70 percent of voters supported specific reforms. He alleged that promises made before the vote including swift implementation of the referendum outcome had not been honored either by the ruling party or BNP.
He criticized the current administration over ongoing gas and electricity shortages, alleged corruption and what he described as unelected officials holding administrative posts despite manifesto promises of elected representation at all levels.
Referring to BNP, Shafiqur Rahman questioned whether conditions had genuinely improved since the previous unelected government with citing continued public hardship.
He urged party leaders and activists to prepare for a broader movement, saying the call would come "when the people need it" and clarified it was unrelated to Eid. He expressed confidence that the public would ultimately prevail over what he termed authoritarian and corrupt elements.
The long march began Saturday morning from Dhaka's Shapla Chattar, passing through Narayanganj, Comilla and Feni before reaching Chattogram. Similar marches are planned for other divisional cities Rangpur on September 19, Khulna on October 10 and Sylhet on October 24 culminating in a Dhaka rally on November 14.
