Special Correspondent //

Jahir Uddin Swapan, the Political Advisor to the Prime Minister, has alleged that an 11-party alliance—including Jamaat-e-Islami—is plotting to create instability in the country through the Dhaka-Chittagong ‘Long March’ program. He stated that at a time when the National Parliament is functioning satisfactorily, organizing a ‘Long March’ on the streets in the name of a movement runs counter to the public aspirations of ordinary citizens.

He made these remarks on Saturday while addressing a roundtable discussion titled ‘Review of the First 180 Days of Bangladesh’s Democratic Government: Context of Good Governance, Accountability, and Development,’ held at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) in the capital. The event was organized by Citizen Forum Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Center for Advanced Initiatives (BCAI).

Urging everyone to remain vigilant, Jahir Uddin Swapan said that the country’s conscious citizens must stay alert regarding the tendency to unnecessarily and hastily shift parliamentary debates to the streets and the announcement of programs like the ‘Long March.’ He remarked, “I do not know to what extent political parties realize the implications of such actions. However, various domestic and foreign malevolent forces lie in wait to exploit such unstable situations.”

Highlighting the government’s activities over the past 180 days, he stated that the government has succeeded in steering the country onto a correct new trajectory, pulling it out of the severe stagnation caused by two decades of fascist practices, a fragile social system, and a bankrupt economy. He added that the crisis was so deep that a magical overnight transformation is impossible; nevertheless, the government has already taken specific policy-level measures to ensure sustainable long-term growth.

Addressing the energy crisis, the Prime Minister’s Political Advisor noted that the country is currently struggling in essential sectors like power and energy due to flawed, long-term import-dependent policies. He remarked that the failure to take permanent measures for extracting natural resources—despite holding power for so long—was not merely corruption; it was a long-term act of deception against the nation. Presided over by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed and moderated by Sakhawat Hossain, the event featured speeches from politicians, academics, and researchers—including former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan, and human rights activist Shireen Huq.

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