Opposition Leaders Demand Reforms and Warn Government at Cumilla Rally
Leaders of an 11-party alliance held a large political rally in Cumilla on Saturday. They gathered at Paduar Bazar. Many speakers said the people want relief from the current government. They claimed the government failed to keep its election promises.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman was the main speaker. He spoke beside the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. Mr. Rahman first demanded the quick establishment of Cumilla division. He also called for a study on reopening Cumilla Airport.
Mr. Rahman said people have wanted Cumilla division since 1994. He asked why Cumilla did not get division status then. He urged for no more delays in making Cumilla a division. He added that the greater Noakhali area also deserves division status. But he said Cumilla’s status should come first.
The Jamaat chief questioned the law and order in Cumilla. He asked if there was extortion in the area. Mr. Rahman also spoke about the alliance’s long march. He said it would go to every major city. A big rally would then be held in Dhaka. He asked Cumilla residents to join the Dhaka event.
National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam also spoke. He alleged that many relatives of government ministers were involved in corruption. He said these actions cause suffering for people. Mr. Islam claimed people are tired of the government. He said the government failed to run the country well in the past six months.
Liberal Democratic Party President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed said the government must listen to the people. He stated that people nationwide no longer want the current government in power. Col Ahmed criticized the country’s situation. He mentioned corruption, extortion, and land grabbing. He also spoke of harassment of party members and drug problems.
Col Ahmed also shared his view on the government’s future. He said many people believe the government will fall by December. He claimed the government would fall “under its own weight” even without opposition actions.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Mamunul Haque said the government must act on public needs. If not, public protests would grow, he warned. Mr. Haque said the government came to power through “rigged votes.” He accepted this earlier for peace. But he warned that further “betrayal” would lead to the government’s downfall.
Other leaders also spoke at the rally. These included Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar and AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju also spoke.
The rally was led by Cumilla city Jamaat Amir Kazi Din Mohammad. It caused traffic problems on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. Many party members filled the highway. The alliance’s long march started from Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar. It will end in Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan. More rallies are planned along the way.
The 11-party alliance has six key demands. They want the referendum verdict implemented. They also demand trials for the July massacre. Improving law and order and stopping crime are also key. Other demands include solving electricity and energy shortages. They also want to control rising prices and end political interference in administration.
