'Fascist rule has taken hold; we have taken to the streets to remove it': Nasiruddin Patwary
The 11-party alliance is organising the long march with several demands.
Nasiruddin Patwary, the National Citizen Party (NCP) chief coordinator, has accused the government of "fascist misrule" and said his party and others in the opposition have taken to the streets to remove it.
"We will continue this struggle for freedom as long as we live – for justice for Osman Hadi, protection of human rights, repeal of the laws on enforced disappearance and cyber security, abolition of the SRB, and to address the suffering of the people living along the Teesta," Patwary said at the inaugural rally of the Jamaat-led opposition alliance's Dhaka–Rangpur long march at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital today (19 September).
"Is Tarique Rahman there? No. Whether any other accomplice of fascism is standing before us – we do not need to care about that," he added.
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He said the government has passed what he called a "black law" on enforced disappearances in parliament.
"Our opposition lawmakers and leaders of the 11-party alliance observed Black Day in parliament by wearing black cloth and staged a walkout. The government said, 'If there is discussion in parliament, then why the long march?''
"If you could have resolved the issue through parliamentary discussion, if you could have resolved enforced disappearances in parliament, we would not have had to go on this long march. The government has forced us to go on the long march. The government has forced us to take to the streets," he said.
"Fascist misrule has taken hold, and we have taken to the streets to oust it," Patwary said.
He said the "march for freedom" has begun its journey towards Rangpur and will also travel to Sylhet.
"The march for freedom will go to every home in Bangladesh. Millions of people will once again take to the streets and say, 'Sheikh Hasina, you have left; Tarique Rahman has followed your path'," he said.
He then led the slogan: "Tarique, when will you go? When will Bangladesh be free?"
The 11-party alliance is organising the long march with several demands.
These include implementing the public mandate expressed through the referendum, holding a trial for the July massacre, and resolving shortages of electricity, oil, gas and fertiliser.
The alliance also demands measures to curb rising prices of essential commodities, end corruption, extortion and land grabbing, improve law and order, end narrow partisan practices, and implement the Teesta Master Plan.
