At Jessore long-march rally, Golam Parwar says the government has destroyed the country in eight months, calls for parliament discussion

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has said the government has destroyed the country in just eight months. He made the remarks on Saturday evening while addressing a roadside rally at Murli Mor in Jessore, organised for the 11-party unity long march.

Golam Parwar said Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal have simply taken the place of what the fascist Awami League used to do; only the name has changed, the character is the same. Price hikes, terrorism, extortion, occupation, and crises of fertiliser, gas and electricity have been created, he said, adding that what did not happen in 10 years, this government has done in eight months by destroying the country.

Criticising the BNP, Mia Golam Parwar said today's sea of people and the slogans at every step are giving the BNP a message, and that even eight months after the election there is still time to think. He said that in the February 12 election the BNP made promises to the nation, the current prime minister himself called for a 'yes' vote in the referendum, voted and campaigned all year, and is now denying his own vote after casting it.

Responding to BNP leaders who accuse the opposition of saying one thing in the morning and another in the evening and destabilising the country through hypocrisy, Golam Parwar countered by asking what had happened to the people and to the referendum's verdict in these seven to eight months. Five crore people voted in the referendum, the BNP also voted, he said; eight months on, why can that word not be kept, and if it cannot be kept, what is wrong with holding a long march.

The Jamaat secretary said the 11 parties are still carrying out a constitutional movement. Their Jamaat ameer and the unity's top leaders have said they will continue a constitutional and disciplined movement, and that public opinion must be built to make people understand that the BNP has betrayed the nation.

Criticising the Krishak Card and Family Card programmes, Golam Parwar said cards are being spread around and taken as a show of strength. But the people hold one card, he said — the red card — and if needed the people will show it.

Calling on the government to discuss implementing the referendum verdict in parliament, he said there is still time. He urged the government, at the parliament session on the 9th, to admit its mistake and step back from the path of one-party constitutional amendment, proposing that parliament discuss how the referendum and constitutional reform proposals can be implemented and settle the matter there without creating political crisis and conflict.

The rally was chaired by Jessore-4 MP and district ameer Professor Golam Rasul. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis ameer Allama Mamunul Haque and NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah MP, among others, addressed it as special guests.