Shafiqur Rahman, chief of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party, said on Saturday that the 11-party alliance’s eight-point demands could become a single demand if the nation required it, warning that the situation would then become “very grave”.

Addressing a rally on Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to launch the alliance’s long march towards Rangpur, Rahman said: “Today we have an eight-point demand. Remember, it could become nine points, it could become ten. And if the nation needs it, these eight points could at any time turn into one point. When it turns into one point, the situation will be very grave.”

The Jamaat chief said many people had become restless following the successful long march from Dhaka to Chattogram, and that some signs of this had also appeared in the capital over the past two days. He urged them not to lose their heads out of frustration, but to try to accept the people’s demands.

“We urge you to learn from the recent past before facing such a situation. Learn from it and accept the people’s demands. If you fail to meet them, then I say clearly: no amount of intimidation will work,” he said.

Rahman said the alliance had not taken to the streets for any party’s demands but for those of 180 million people.

“We won’t care about anything. We have not taken to the streets for any party’s demand. We have come out for the demands of 180 million people. Today 180 million people stand with the 11 parties, and we will go home having secured those demands.”

Vowing to continue the movement, he said: “We promise the people: this struggle has begun. We will return home only after the demands are met, Insha’Allah.”