AB Party Joint General Secretary Shahadatullah Tutul at the preparatory meeting for the Dhaka-Rangpur long march

Desk Report: The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has held a preparatory meeting with its leaders from the Rangpur region as part of its preparations for a long march from Dhaka to Rangpur on September 19, aimed at pressing for the implementation of six demands announced by an 11-party political alliance.

The meeting was held at the party`s central office, with AB Party Joint General Secretary Shahadatullah Tutul presided over the event. Abu Bakar Siddique, a member of the Rangpur Divisional Organisational Committee, moderated the meeting.

Party leaders discussed ways to ensure participation of people from all sections of society in the long march, strengthen organisational preparations across the Rangpur division, and make the programme peaceful and successful.

Addressing the meeting, Shahadatullah Tutul said the people`s verdict in a referendum could not be ignored under any circumstances.

“The government must take effective steps to fulfil the expectations that have emerged through people`s votes and the mass movement,” he said.

He also described justice for the July killings, control of rising commodity prices, resolution of fuel and fertiliser shortages, and improvement of law and order as legitimate demands of the people.

“Peaceful movements of the 11-party alliance must be strengthened further to implement these demands,” he said.

Tutul said the Dhaka-Rangpur long march was not merely a political programme, but also a public-oriented initiative seeking people`s legitimate rights, respect for the people`s mandate and good governance.

“People in Rangpur have always been at the forefront of democratic movements. We hope that the people of Rangpur will participate in large numbers in the September 19 long march and express solidarity with the people`s demands,” he said.

Rangpur Divisional Organisational Committee Mahbubur Rahman; Dinajpur district convener Principal Shahidul Islam; AB Party Assistant Secretary for Agriculture Affairs Mostafizur Rahman Ranjoo; Kurigram district convener Dr Nazrul Islam; Rangpur district convener Aktaruzzaman; Rangpur metropolitan member secretary Golzar Hossain; Kurigram district member secretary Zahidul Islam Jewel; Nilphamari leader Liaquat Ali; and Rangpur district member secretary Mahmud Azad were attending the meeting along with other leaders from the region.

The meeting decided to intensify mass outreach, organisational activities and publicity campaigns across different districts, the metropolitan area, upazilas and local-level units of Rangpur division ahead of the long march.

The organisers said the preparations were aimed at ensuring broad public participation while keeping the programme peaceful and orderly.