Shafiqur warns eight-point demands may become one

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman has cautioned that the 11-party alliance's eight-point demands could eventually crystallise into a single demand, urging the government to heed what he described as the people's demands or risk a "very serious" situation.

Speaking at the inaugural rally of the alliance's Dhaka-Rangpur long march at Manik Mia Avenue on Saturday, September 19, Shafiqur said the eight-point agenda could expand to nine or 10 points and, if necessary, narrow to a single point. Furthermore, he urged the government not to lose its temper but rather to learn from recent events and respond to the demands. Failing that, he warned, the situation could deteriorate considerably.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the long march had been organised to highlight what he described as the government's failure to ensure people's rights. Similarly, Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque said the movement was centred on public rights, thereby echoing the theme running through the rally.

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Meanwhile, NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam claimed that participation in the long march was growing and that the demands were broadening accordingly. Moreover, he said the movement could move towards a single-point demand if the rights sought by the participants were not secured.