Seven-point demand will turn into one-point if referendum verdict is ignored: Jamaat ameer in Jhenaidah

Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said the current government has insulted the people by refusing to accept the verdict of the referendum. He said if the government accepts the seven-point demands, the question of a one-point demand will not arise; but if it does not, the seven points could turn into one point at any time.

He made the remarks as chief guest at a wayside rally of the 11-party alliance's long march in the Shahid Minar Chattar area of Jhenaidah town at around 9:30pm on Saturday (31 October). Leaders and activists of various political parties were present at the rally.

The Jamaat ameer said: 'In February you cast two votes. With one vote, the BNP formed the government through engineering. You cast another vote, where the BNP and Jamaat — all of us — said to say yes. Seventy percent of people voted yes there. But they have insulted that verdict of the people. They have not implemented the referendum verdict yet.'

Warning the government about the outcome of the seven-point demands, he said: 'If you accept the seven points, the stone of the one-point will not press down. But if you do not accept it willingly, you will be crushed under the stone of the one-point. We do not want any chaos to be created in the country. Every long march of ours has so far been held peacefully.'

He further said: 'If the people's rights are thrown underfoot, the opposition will not sit idly sucking its fingers. Then our seven points will turn into one point at any moment. Does hearing of the one-point make your liver tremble? But we do not want to make livers tremble. Accept it willingly.'

The Jamaat ameer also stated his position on the future of the long march programme. He said if the government accepts the referendum verdict, no further long march will be called. But if the government stubbornly sticks to not accepting the verdict, 'then today we have come from Dhaka to Jhenaidah; tomorrow we will call upon you to come from here to Dhaka.'

Speaking as special guest at the rally, LDP president Colonel Oli Ahmed said that since coming to power, the current government has been taking the country towards one-party, Baksal-style rule.

After the Jhenaidah wayside rally, the long march convoy set off from Jhenaidah towards Kushtia at around 10pm.