No room for provocation in 5 Sep Dhaka-Ctg long march: Jamaat

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Tuesday said the 11-party alliance was making systematic preparations for its September 5 Dhaka-Chattogram long march, urging all to avoid reacting to any provocation.
The programme will be held peacefully and in a disciplined manner, without giving anyone an opportunity to create unrest on the streets, Porwar said at a press conference at the party’s Moghbazar central office in Dhaka.
The Jamaat-led alliance is pressing six demands, including implementation of the referendum verdict, trial of the July massacre and measures to control prices of essential commodities, he said.
The long march will also protest the government’s failure to address the power and energy crisis, improve law and order and end administrative politicisation, he said.
Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman is expected to lead the march. Porwar said several sub-committees had been formed, with responsibilities covering reception, medical services, transport, publicity, publications, information technology, volunteers, cultural activities and administrative communication.
“We are holding meetings in successive rounds and observing an overwhelming response and great enthusiasm among the people in support of the six-point demand,” he said.
The march will begin at 7am from Shapla Chattar in Dhaka and end at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Street rallies will be held at key locations along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, he said.
More than 1,000 vehicles may join the march, with activists and people from districts, upazilas and metropolitan areas along the route expected to participate.
Porwar said alliance leaders met police officials on August 24 to discuss arrangements, including the route, to ensure the programme remained peaceful and orderly.
The convoy will use one section of the highway, allowing regular traffic to continue on the other. However, Porwar acknowledged that the large programme could cause temporary inconvenience and apologised in advance, seeking cooperation from the administration, political parties, media and the public.