Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has urged party activists to exercise utmost patience and restraint to ensure the success of the Dhaka-Rangpur long march scheduled for Saturday.

“We have urged our leaders and activists not to fall into any provocation. By showing the utmost patience and restraint, we will make our democratic programme a success,” he said at a press briefing at the party’s central office here on Friday (18 September).

The long march is being organised to press for seven demands, including implementation of the referendum verdict, trial of the July mass killings, resolution of power, oil, gas and fertiliser shortages, curbing price hikes of essentials, an end to corruption, extortion and land grabbing, improvement of law and order, ending narrow partisanisation and implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

Parwar said extensive preparations have been completed along the route, with an opening rally scheduled at Manik Mia Avenue at 7am on Saturday. The procession will leave for Rangpur around 8am.

It will hold roadside rallies at Bhogra Bypass in Gazipur, Nagar Jalpai in Tangail, Hatikumrul in Sirajganj, Matidali Biman Mor in Bogura and Palashbari in Gaibandha before concluding with a rally at Rangpur Zilla School ground.

More than 1,000 vehicles are expected to join the procession, he said.

Parwar said the Teesta Master Plan demand has been added following a meeting of leaders of an 11-party alliance, reflecting what he described as a longstanding demand of people in northern Bangladesh.

“We urge the government to overcome any hesitation over the Teesta Master Plan and take necessary steps through diplomatic channels,” he said.