BNP wings hold long march, vow to resist ‘Indian aggression’

Three associate organisations of the BNP held a long march from Dhaka towards India's Agartala today (11 December), protesting the attack on a Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, disrespect to the national flag, and alleged attempts to provoke communal unrest.

Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal vowed to resist Indian aggression while participating in the long march that started from the party's central office in capital's Nayapaltan at 9am and reached Akhaura of Brahmanbaria at about 3:30pm.

They said that the people of Bangladesh have never accepted the dominance of any country, nor will they accept India's dominance. If anyone attempts to conspire against the country, the leaders and activists of Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal will resist it, they vowed.

Hundreds of leaders and activists began gathering in front of the party's central office in small processions from 7am to join in the long march.

Bangladesh did not gain independence from Pakistan in 1971 just to surrender to India now, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said during a rally at Nayapaltan prior to the long march.

"We gained independence at the cost of blood. Would we sell this independence [over to India]?" he said.

Rizvi said, "Today, Indian leaders are being criticised by democratic countries all over the world."

Though India itself is a democratic country, it does not want the people of Bangladesh to follow in its footsteps, he said. 

"The leaders of Delhi have not yet grasped the strength, resilience, and resistance of the people of Bangladesh." 

Presence of leaders and activists

The long march reached Bhairab at about 12:30pm via Paltan, Fakirapool, Ittefaq Mor, and Chittagong Road.

An active presence of leaders and activists was visible on both sides of the roads. Leaders and activists from the three organisations participated in the long march with pick-up trucks and motorbike processions, coming from various districts including Khagrachari, Habiganj, Sylhet, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria.

During this time, they chanted various anti-India slogans, including "Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka, Dhaka" and "Agents of India, beware and stay alert."

In a roadside rally at Bhairab, SM Jilani, president of the Swechchhasebak Dal, said, "We are undertaking this long march against India's aggression. India claims to be a democratic state, yet it has provided refuge to Sheikh Hasina and her associates, who fled in the face of Bangladesh's people's democratic movement." 

At about 4:15pm, a rally was held at the Akhaura land port field, just 100 metres away from the Agartala border.

At the rally, Abdul Monayem Munna, president of Jubo Dal, said, "The people of Bangladesh are a highly independent-minded nation. We remain vigilant against any conspiracies involving Bangladesh."

He said, "It is India's responsibility to ensure the security of Bangladesh's mission in India, and they have failed to do so. Bangladesh must be treated as a neighbouring state, not as a subordinate. We have no masters."

Rakibul Islam Rakib, president of Chhatra Dal, said, "Through this long march, we are sending a clear message to India. With your patronage, Sheikh Hasina has forcibly disappeared and killed thousands of leaders and activists. No matter how many conspiracies you plot, they will not succeed."