11-Party Unity launches long march toward Rangpur

The 11-Party Unity alliance is launching a long march from Dhaka toward Rangpur to present eight specific demands to the government. This follows a previous march toward Chittagong in September. The alliance has added regional issues to its national agenda, specifically calling for the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, alongside demands to end corruption, extortion, and the rising cost of essential goods.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, emphasized that the march is intended to be peaceful, non-violent, and orderly. He has formally requested cooperation from law enforcement, civil society, and local administrations to ensure the program proceeds without disruption. Leaders of the alliance expressed expectations for a large turnout, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of participants at the concluding rally in Rangpur.

The political motivation for targeting the Rangpur region stems from the alliance's strong electoral presence there. Leaders noted that in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the coalition won 19 of the 33 seats in the Rangpur division. The alliance also cited the rejection of a recent referendum result as a primary driver of the current political crisis.