Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday urged the government to honour the commitments it made to the people, warning that failure to do so would leave it with no option but to implement the referendum verdict.
Addressing a rally of an 11-party alliance at the Rangpur District School Ground, Shafiqur accused the government of backtracking on its reform commitments and called for immediate implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, effective enforcement of the referendum verdict, an end to border killings and push-ins, and urgent measures to ease public suffering.
“Do not become a national traitor. Fulfil the promises made to the people and implement the referendum verdict,” he told the gathering.
The rally was organised to press home the alliance’s demands for reforms and development, particularly in the Teesta basin region.
Shafiqur Rahman alleged that various attempts 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.
“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 added.
The Jamaat chief said the country’s youth had fought against inequality and corrupt politics to build a new Bangladesh, arguing that the referendum had been held to pave the way for long-awaited reforms.
He further alleged that the current Prime Minister had pledged before the election to support both his party and the referendum but had fulfilled only the political commitment while ignoring the reform agenda.
Turning to the long-pending Teesta Master Plan, Shafiqur criticised the government for failing to allocate funds for the project despite earlier promises.
He recalled that the ruling party had launched the “Jago Bahe Teesta Bachao” movement before the election but said no allocation for the Teesta project had been included 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.
On border issues, the Jamaat Ameer accused India of creating tensions along the Bangladesh border while claiming the government had remained silent.
“The people are not only protesting, they are also standing beside BGB personnel to resist such actions. We salute these brave people,” he said.
He urged the government to reflect the aspirations of the people instead of acting to satisfy external interests and reiterated that there should be no further delay in implementing the Teesta Master Plan.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam also addressed the rally, warning that the government could lose international support if it failed to preserve national unity and honour the 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 argued that the mass uprising, the referendum, the reform agenda and the July Charter had created the political environment that enabled the BNP to come to power.
He alleged that the ruling party had since abandoned those commitments. “The BNP has betrayed the referendum, the 31-point reform proposal, the July Charter and democracy,” he claimed.
Leaders of other alliance partners also addressed the rally, which was chaired by NCP Convener Nahid Islam.
