Government betraying the People from the beginning: Dr Shafiqur Rahman
Opposition Leader Warns Bangladesh's Ruling Coalition Has Abandoned Citizens Since Day One
Thebangladaily.com – The long march of Bangladesh's 11-party opposition alliance reached its first major roadside stop on Saturday afternoon, September 5, when thousands gathered at Mahipal along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Feni district. At 4:00 PM, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and senior opposition figure Dr Shafiqur Rahman addressed the crowd, delivering a blistering indictment of the ruling government that he characterized as a sustained campaign of deception stretching back to the coalition's very first days in power.
"Betrayed from Day One"
Rahman framed his central argument around a single, repeated claim: that the government has systematically ignored the needs and demands of ordinary Bangladeshis from the moment it assumed office. He pointed to persistent shortages of natural gas and electricity as tangible evidence of administrative failure, arguing that basic utilities remain unreliable across the country despite years of promises.
"This government has betrayed the people from day one. Bangladesh is our only home; we have nowhere else to go. A steamroller of oppression has been driven over us. We have never fled to anyone's house abroad."
The remark carried particular weight given the political history of Jamaat-e-Islami, a party that has endured decades of state repression, bans, and exile of its leadership. Rahman contrasted the Jamaat's record of staying in-country during crises with what he described as a pattern among other opposition parties of seeking refuge overseas whenever political pressure intensified.
Justice Delayed: Six Months After the Massacre
A second pillar of Rahman's address concerned the failure, in his words, to deliver accountability for a recent massacre. He stated that six months had elapsed since the incident without meaningful progress in bringing those responsible before a court of law. For families of victims and for opposition supporters who view the killings as a watershed moment in Bangladesh's post-election political landscape, the perceived judicial stagnation has become a rallying cry.
Rahman drew an explicit parallel between the current climate and earlier authoritarian episodes in the country's history. He told the Mahipal crowd that the sounds of authoritarian overreach were audible once more, yet insisted the opposition would not be cowed.
"We are hearing the footsteps of fascism once again. We are being threatened now, but we are not afraid of such intimidation. Stay prepared; when the final call comes, we will have to take to the streets again."
The Long March and the Six-Point Demands
The rally formed part of a broader mobilization strategy. The 11-party alliance's announced Long March programme set out from Dhaka that same Saturday morning, with Chattogram as its ultimate destination. The march is designed to project sustained opposition presence across districts along the country's principal east–west corridor, keeping pressure on the government while building grassroots engagement between major cities.
Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam, who addressed the Mahipal gathering as a special guest, outlined the alliance's negotiating posture. He instructed supporters to remain ready to respond swiftly should they face physical confrontation. Islam further announced that a definitive political declaration would be delivered at a grand rally in Dhaka, and he added a conditional concession: if the government accepts the opposition's six-point demands before that final declaration, the alliance would withdraw from its planned hardline programmes.
The six-point demands, circulated by the alliance in recent weeks, cover issues including judicial independence, restoration of civil liberties, accountability for state violence, and guarantees against arbitrary detention. Their acceptance or rejection will likely determine whether the opposition escalates its street programme or pivots toward institutional negotiation.
Leadership and Attendance
The Mahipal rally was chaired by Maulana Mufti Abdul Hannan, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Feni district unit. Among the distinguished attendees were Colonel (Retd.) Dr Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and former minister; Allama Mamunul Haque, Ameer of the Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis; Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former member of parliament; and Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens' Party. The breadth of representation underscored the alliance's attempt to present a united front spanning Islamist, liberal, and centrist currents in Bangladeshi politics.
Political Context and Implications
The rally arrives at a moment of heightened tension in Bangladesh's post-election landscape. The ruling coalition, which took office following a contested electoral cycle, has faced recurring protests over economic management, utility reliability, and the pace of judicial proceedings linked to political violence. Opposition groups, operating under a formal alliance structure for the first time in several years, are testing the limits of state tolerance through sustained road marches and district-level rallies.
Analysts note that the Mahipal stop, situated roughly midway between Dhaka and Chattogram, was chosen to maximize visibility along one of the country's busiest transport arteries. The timing—late afternoon—also allowed working commuters to join the gathering. Whether the government will respond with concessions, legal challenges to the march route, or a combination of both remains the central question heading into the alliance's next scheduled stop and its eventual Dhaka declaration.
For the thousands who packed the Mahipal roadside that Saturday afternoon, the message from the Jamaat Ameer was unambiguous: patience has run out, preparation is underway, and the streets remain the ultimate arena if institutional channels continue to deliver silence.
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