Opposition Leader in Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the government will not be given much more time to respond to public demands, saying that failure to bring about change could lead to serious consequences.
Speaking as the chief guest at a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram on Saturday (13 June), Dr Rahman said time was running out and urged the government to heed public sentiment.
“Time is very limited. Time is running out. If change does not come within this period, those responsible must be prepared for the consequences,” he said.
The rally was organised to demand implementation of what organisers described as the people’s verdict expressed through a referendum, as well as measures to ease public suffering and control rising commodity prices.
Dr Rahman said the government should accept the outcome of the referendum and warned that if it failed to voluntarily comply with public demands, a situation similar to that of 1996 could emerge.
Referring to the introduction of the caretaker government system that year, he said public pressure had compelled the government to act and could do so again.
“Accept it willingly. Do not force the people onto the streets,” he said.
The Jamaat chief also maintained that intimidating political activists would not be enough to suppress protests.
“For the sake of the country and its people, we are prepared to go to prison repeatedly and even sacrifice our lives. Neither prison locks nor those who hold the keys are permanent,” he said.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad also addressed the gathering.
