Mahbub Piyal, Faridpur 

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman declared on Saturday that the 11-party alliance has taken to the streets to protect citizens' rights and build a humane, corruption-free nation.

Addressing a roadside rally in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur during the alliance's Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march, Dr Shafiqur Rahman described the movement as a struggle for public liberation and comprehensive state reform.

The motorcade of the 11-party alliance, led by Dr Shafiqur Rahman alongside National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, arrived in front of the Bhanga Pourashava on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway at around 11:00 am. Addressing the assembled crowd, the Jamaat chief called for national unity to repair state institutions and eliminate systemic corruption and extortion.

The long march is centered on a seven-point demand, which includes implementing the public verdict of the referendum, prosecuting the July genocide, resolving power, oil, gas, and fertilizer shortages, curbing the price hike of essential commodities, improving the law and order situation, stopping narrow partisan politicization, and ending corruption, extortion, and illegal land-grabbing.

A massive gathering of alliance leaders, activists, and supporters lined both sides of the highway from early morning to welcome the motorcade. Representatives and followers from Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Maulana Mamunul Haq were seen participating in the program.

Following the brief rally and exchanges of greetings in Bhanga, the extensive vehicle procession departed toward Kushtia via Khulna to continue the long march.