The National Citizen Party (NCP) did not attend the opening rally of the 11-party alliance’s long march towards Khulna, but four of its leaders later joined the procession, party sources said.

The rally was held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Saturday morning. The convoy began its journey towards Khulna at around 8:30am.

Several NCP leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party’s convener and member secretary were not taking part in the march. Instead, the party decided to send a delegation comprising four senior leaders: Senior Joint Convener Hasnat Abdullah, Joint Conveners Ariful Islam Adeeb and Abdul Hannan Masud, and Joint Member Secretary SM Saif Mustafiz.

NCP leaders said Adeeb had already delivered a speech at Naodoba in Shariatpur. They described the party’s participation in the march as symbolic, noting that its convener, member secretary and other senior leaders had joined the previous two long marches.

NCP Senior Joint Convener Nasiruddin Patwary told Prothom Alo over the phone that the party was participating in the march through several representatives. He did not directly comment on the absence of NCP leaders from the opening rally.

Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, said Hasnat Abdullah would join the march from Bagerhat. An NCP joint convener, however, claimed on condition of anonymity that Hasnat was already in the convoy. Prothom Alo said it could not independently verify the claim or obtain Hasnat’s comment.

Security concerns over Gopalganj route

The convoy is scheduled to pass through Gopalganj, drawing attention to security arrangements. In July last year, an attack took place during the NCP’s July March and rally in the district. The incident was blamed on leaders and activists of the now-banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations.

However, the 11-party alliance has dismissed concerns about a possible attack during the current journey. Nasiruddin Patwary described such reports as false and rumours, saying the party had spoken with law enforcement agencies and there was no risk of an attack. The alliance has not scheduled any roadside rally in Gopalganj.

NCP seeks to maintain separate identity

The NCP’s participation had been a subject of discussion in recent days. Sources close to the party said that although it is part of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, it wants to maintain its distinct identity as an independent political party.

As part of that effort, the NCP organised a mass protest in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Friday, a day before the alliance’s long march towards the Khulna division.

Long march route and demands

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman attended the opening rally as the chief guest. In his speech, he said another inevitable revolution was knocking at the door and urged people to prepare for it.

The convoy set off at around 8:30am, travelling via the Hanif Flyover and Dhaka-Mawa Highway. The planned route includes Bhanga in Faridpur, Gopalganj, Khulna, the Rupsha Bridge, Jashore and Kushtia. The approximately 425-kilometre journey will cross 19 districts, with several roadside rallies planned along the way.

The convoy is expected to hold gatherings at Naodoba, Katakhali in Bagerhat, Babri Chattar and Swadhinata Chattar in Khulna, Murali intersection in Jashore, and the Jhenaidah-Chuadanga bus stand area. The concluding rally will be held at Shaheed Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia.

The 11-party alliance is holding the long march to demand implementation of the referendum verdict and constitutional reforms in line with the July National Charter. Its other demands include justice for the killings committed during the July mass uprising, resolving shortages of electricity, energy, gas and fertiliser, controlling prices of essential commodities, improving law and order, and ending corruption, extortion, land grabbing and politicisation of the administration.

The alliance previously held long marches towards Chattogram on September 5 and Rangpur on September 19. It plans to organise another march towards Sylhet on November 21.