A massive public rally of the Greater Sunni Alliance was held at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa Ground on Wednesday, 10 December, where leaders expressed serious concern that the country could face extreme uncertainty and disaster if the upcoming national election schedule is not implemented promptly.
During the rally, the Alliance demanded:
- Swift completion of the Sylhet-Dhaka six-lane highway.
- Protection of Sylhet’s tourism areas from land grabbers and allocation of the national budget for tourism.
- Equitable distribution of gas from Sylhet’s five gas fields to all districts in the division and initiation of new domestic gas connections.
- Assurance of the national election scheduled for February, with equal participation for all registered political parties in state dialogues and under the July Charter.
- Declaration of corrupt, black-money holders, and convicted individuals as ineligible for elections.
- Justice for attacks on shrines, mosques, and khanqas, as well as accountability for all killings after the July revolution.
- Measures to stop mob terrorism.
- The declaration of Sylhet as the spiritual capital of the country.
Key Statements from Leaders:
Pir Tarekat Maulana Syed Saifuddin Ahmed Al Hasani, central chairman of Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), stated that people are unsafe at home and outside. Since 5 August, mobs have attacked civilians, assaulted teachers, vandalised shrines, looted, and committed arson. Even imams and khateebs have been forcibly removed from mosques, and graves have been desecrated. He emphasised that the majority of the population is Sufi-oriented, peaceful, and not an adversary, but will defend itself if provoked.
Maulana Syed Bahadur Shah Mujaddedi, central chairman of Islamic Front Bangladesh, highlighted rising unemployment and poverty, closure of hundreds of mills, and government neglect. He condemned the desecration of graves as unprecedented and called it a return to a state of “neo-Jahiliyyah.”
Maulana M.A. Matin, central chairman of Bangladesh Islamic Front, criticised government advisers for biased actions obstructing free and fair elections and urged that all steps should reflect the people’s expectations. He called for maximum punishment for those involved in violence at Shah Paran’s shrine and ensured security for all religious sites and leaders.
Other speakers included Maulana Zainul Abedin Zubair, S.U.M. Abdus Samad, Md. Aslam Hossain from BSP, and many senior leaders from both BSP and the Islamic Front Bangladesh.
The 13-Point Demands Announced at the Rally:
- Conduct national elections as per the Election Commission’s schedule.
- Ensure all registered political parties participate in state-level dialogues and maintain impartial administration during elections.
- Conduct combing operations to recover illegal weapons before elections.
- Declare corrupt, black-money holders, and convicted individuals ineligible for elections.
- Declare Sylhet as the “spiritual capital” of Bangladesh.
- Complete the Sylhet-Dhaka six-lane highway and operate a double rail line on this route.
- Protect tourist areas from land grabbers and ensure national budget allocation for tourism.
- Distribute gas from Sylhet’s five gas fields equitably to all districts and provide new household gas connections.
- Ensure justice for all killings after July 24 and subsequent events.
- Take effective measures against foreign-supported armed terrorists in the hill districts.
- Cancel the decision to hand over Chittagong port terminals to foreigners and prevent the Arakan Army from gaining corridor access.
- Ensure protection of shrines, khanqas, religious leaders, media freedom, and journalists.
- Protect the honour of freedom fighters and preserve the history of independence.
The rally emphasized the urgent need for national unity in the public interest, while cautioning that political unrest or conspiracies could plunge the country into a severe crisis if elections are disrupted.