Photo: BSS

KUSHTIA, Sept 5, 2026 (BSS)- State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain today described the opposition’s long march as ‘unnecessary,’ saying the programme will increase public sufferings and waste of  huge fuel amid the ongoing fuel crisis.

He made the remarks while talking to the journalists after attending a tree-planting programme and exchange of views with freedom fighters and a memorial meeting for former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Khoksa Upazila here.

“I think this long march programme will unnecessarily cause public sufferings and waste state resources. Initially, they said the long march has organised because of the fuel crisis.

 Yet, according to estimates, nearly 100,000 litres of fuel will be consumed to stage the long march,” he said.

“They then said the programme is for implementing the public mandate. I was there when we took the oath. 

We took the oath as MPs in accordance with the constitution and the law and signed a document. Later, another document was handed to us, which was completely unconstitutional and illegal,” he added.

Referring to opinions expressed by legal and constitutional experts regarding the second oath, the state minister said, “Many people have given me their opinion on whether taking the second oath makes the first oath invalid. I do not want to get into that controversy.”

Regarding the public mandate, he said, “We are in favour of the public mandate and campaigned for a ‘Yes’ vote. Through this, the reforms desired by the people have been expressed. Those reforms can be implemented through the amendments to the constitution.”

He further said an opposition party had also been invited to participate in the committee formed for constitutional amendments but it had not yet joined the process.

“On the one hand, they are not participating in the committee, while on the other hand, they are causing public suffering in the name of a long march and unnecessarily burning fuel at a time when there is a fuel crisis,” he said.

Questioning the opposition’s role, Ishraque said, ‘Before reviewing whether we, as the government, have succeeded or failed, you should also review how successful they have been as the opposition over the past six months.’

Among others, former president of Kushtia district BNP and former lawmaker freedom fighter Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi,  former general secretary and district council administrator freedom fighter Prof. 

Sohrab Uddin, former Khoksa Upazila Parishad chairman Syed Amzad Ali, Khoksa BNP president Alauddin Khan,  former joint general secretary of Khoksa municipal BNP Md. Rofin Hossain and former central JCD finance secretary Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, were present at that time.