Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has urged the government to honour its commitments to the public, warning that it would otherwise be compelled to implement the referendum verdict itself.
Speaking at an 11-party alliance rally at Rangpur District School Ground on Saturday, he called on the government to fulfil its promises and avoid, in his words, becoming "a national traitor". The rally demanded implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, effective steps to enforce the referendum verdict, an end to border killings and alleged push-ins, and measures to reduce public hardship.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman said efforts were being made to divert public attention from the demand to implement the referendum verdict. "Many things are being said to distract us from the demand for implementing the referendum verdict in different ways. But we cannot betray the nation. We have promised the people that we will continue our struggle and ensure the implementation of the referendum verdict, InshaAllah," he said.
He added that his party would not change its position. "We will not move an inch from this position. I am reaffirming this commitment here in Rangpur, the land soaked in the blood of Abu Sayed," he said.
The Jamaat chief said young people had fought against inequality and corrupt politics in an effort to build a new Bangladesh. He claimed the referendum had been held to bring about reforms and alleged that the current Prime Minister had promised to support both the ruling party and the referendum but had honoured only the first commitment.
Turning to the Teesta issue, he said the ruling party had previously organised the "Jago Bahe Teesta Bachao" movement before the election, yet no allocation had been made for the Teesta project in the current national budget.
"We do not want empty words. We want practical action. If this government fails, the 11-party alliance, with the support and votes of the people, will form the government in the future and implement the Teesta project, InshaAllah," he said.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman also accused India of creating tensions along the border while alleging that the government had remained silent. He said local people were standing alongside Border Guard Bangladesh personnel to resist such actions and praised what he described as their bravery. He urged the government to reflect the aspirations of the people rather than acting to satisfy others and repeated his call for the Teesta project to be implemented without further delay.
National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam also addressed the rally, warning that the government risked losing international support if it failed to preserve national unity and honour commitments made following the mass uprising.
"If there is no national unity in the country, the government will not receive support from any country in the world. The IMF has already told them it will not provide any more loans. No country will cooperate with them if they betray the spirit of the mass uprising and the reform process," he said.
Nahid Islam said the mass uprising, the referendum, the reform agenda and the July Charter had created the political conditions that brought the BNP to power. He alleged that the party had since abandoned those commitments.
"The BNP has betrayed the referendum, the 31-point reform proposal, the July Charter and democracy," he said.
Leaders from other alliance partners also addressed the rally, which was chaired by National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam, who also serves as the Opposition Chief Whip.
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