When final call comes you will take to streets': Jamaat Ameer
Issuing a warning of a movement against the government, Opposition leader of the Jatiya Sangsad and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that the government had been given time but no signs of correction have yet been seen.
Saying that this situation would not continue for long, he said, "The deeper the darkness of the night the closer the dawn. When the final call comes you will take to the streets."
Dr Shafiqur Rahman made the remarks at a roadside rally at Mahipal in Feni on Saturday (September 5), as part of the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-Chattogram long march programme.
"We have taken to streets after waiting for a long time. We can see the footsteps of fascism emerging again in the country. The government is now threatening us. We did not fear Hasina's threats so how did you think we would fear you now?" he said.
He said, "You will carry out shameless politicisation of the country, while the opposition will simply sit idle-does that make sense? The responsibility of the opposition is to protest, point out mistakes and if those concerns are ignored build resistance."
"We want to build a safe Bangladesh for people of all religions. We want to leave a secure future for the young generation," he added.
Criticising the country's power situation Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the government ministers stand in Parliament and claim that there is no power crisis in the country.
"In reality people are suffering badly because of the power crisis. We have realised that no development of the country is possible under this government," he said.
He further said they had wanted to see swift justice for all killings committed during the Awami League government's tenure including those linked to the July uprising.
However he claimed that the current government had so far failed to make significant progress in these trials.
"Whatever progress has been made took place during the interim government's tenure. In reality the government is not sincere about these trials. From the very first day this government has betrayed the people. It has gone against public opinion," he said.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman said those who had gone against public opinion in the past had faced dire consequences.
He also alleged that the Awami League government had used a 'steamroller of oppression and persecution' against its opponents.
"In the end no one can remain in power for long through oppression and persecution," he said.
The roadside rally was organisied with six demands: implementation of the people's mandate expressed through the referendum, curbing the rising prices of essential commodities, expediting the trial of the July massacre, improvement of the law and order situation, resolving the power and energy crisis and ending all forms of partisanisation.
Top leaders of the 11-party alliance also addressed the rally.
The event was moderated by Feni district Jamaat Amir Mufti Maulana Abdul Hannan and Secretary Maulana Abdur Rahim.
Among others National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam MP, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Allama Mamunul Haque, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Bhuiyan Manju and Nezam-e-Islam Party Secretary General Mufti Musa Bin Izhar Chowdhury addressed the rally.
A large number of leaders and activists from the 11 party alliance at the central, regional and local levels, along with members of the general public, were also present at the rally.