The 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, has postponed its long march towards Sylhet. The programme was initially planned to be held on November 21 via railway, as an alternative to the dilapidated Dhaka-Sylhet highway. However, the march has been called off, and no new date has been fixed.

Habibur Rahman, the Amir of Sylhet district Jamaat, told Prothom Alo on Friday evening that instructions came from the central leadership to postpone the Sylhet long march before the Khulna march. He added that no new directive has been received regarding when the programme will be held.

Railway Route Plan

The 11-party alliance had a distinct plan for the Sylhet long march from the beginning. When the programme was announced on August 6, the opposition leader and Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Shafiqur Rahman, had stated that unlike other divisions, the Sylhet march would be held via railway instead of buses or roads.

Central leaders of Jamaat said the decision to use the railway route was made due to the poor condition of the roads. However, no immediate details were provided regarding the reason for the postponement. It is speculated that a new date for the Sylhet march may be announced after the Khulna programme is completed.

Political Context

The 11-party alliance has been holding long marches in various divisions across the country. Similar programmes have already been completed in Khulna and other regions. The postponement of the Sylhet programme has sparked fresh discussions about the alliance's future plans. However, no official statement has been issued by the alliance regarding the reason for the postponement.