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Invoking historical parallels, the Jamaat chief said if the government refuses to accept the referendum outcome or the public demand, a situation akin to that of 1996 will ultimately emerge. Just as it (the then BNP government) was forced to introduce and pass the caretaker government bill in 1996, it will also be compelled to implement the referendum verdict this time. It should accept the mandate willingly rather than forcing people to take to the streets.

“A previous regime attempted to establish fascism and is now hiding out in the forests, fleeing through rivers and canals. Where will you flee?” he warned.

The 11-party alliance organised the rally to press a set of demands, including immediate implementation of the referendum mandate, strict control of soaring commodity prices, improvement of law and order, and protection of public rights.

In his speech, Shafiqur launched a sharp critique of the proposed national budget, also targeting the prime minister’s remarks suggesting that the opposition opposed it due to reduced duties on alcohol and cigarettes.

“The opposition’s role is to deliver logical and constructive criticism of the budget. What is there to be angry about? Why lose patience so easily?” he said, advising the prime minister to identify individuals within his inner circle who, he claimed, were misguiding him. “Those who take receptions while riding in the vehicles of notorious bank defaulters can offer you nothing of value,” he added.

He further alleged that parliamentary proceedings were being bypassed on key national security issues. Despite formal opposition notices seeking discussion on border concerns, he said, the government had continued to delay. “What is there to fear? Who are you afraid of? History shows that no one escapes after betraying the nation.”

Expressing concern over the law and order situation, Shafiqur said people had expected extortion to end under an elected government but that it had instead worsened.

He also criticised the government for failing to curb corruption.

“Before the election, you promised to take a stand against corruption. Instead, we are seeing that corruption has effectively been nationalised,” he said.

Speaking at the rally, Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, strongly criticised the budget, saying it lacked clear measures to stop financial looting and institutional corruption.

“We genuinely wanted to applaud the government and the prime minister, but you have taken zero concrete steps to halt public looting, financial corruption, or hostile bank takeovers,” he said, adding that corruption could not be eliminated without structural state reforms.

He also alleged that due to the absence of police reform, a national team cricketer was subjected to harassment in Chattogram. “If the government chooses the path of autocracy, the masses will inevitably choose the path of an uprising,” he warned.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Oli Ahmed urged the prime minister to exercise executive authority directly rather than through proxies.

“You must declare directly: ‘I am the prime minister; I do not need sycophants.’ While you have the legislative support of the 11-party alliance, you must identify and purge the foreign agents and opportunists surrounding you,” he said.

Questioning the government’s hesitation on reforms, he added, “You have the constitutional provision to serve terms spanning up to two decades as prime minister and president. How many more years do you need? You cannot survive with enemies on all sides. Build a bridge of friendship with the opposition.”

Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (JAGPA) leader Rashed Prodhan claimed the current administration’s rapid decline in public popularity was unprecedented.

He alleged that the government was quickly repeating authoritarian patterns of the past regime.