DHAKA: Various leftist and progressive organizations have started the long march towards Sundarbans on Tuesday demanding the cancellation of Rampal Power Project to save the mangrove forest.

They started the protest under the banner of National Committee to protect oil, gas and mineral resources, power and port.

National Committee for Protecting the Sunderbans convener Engineer Shkih Mohammad Shahidullah announced the formal start of the Long March at around 11:05 am after a rally in front of the National Press Club.

Organizations like Gonofront, Biplobi Chhatra Moitree, Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD), CPB and many others joined the march.

The long march is scheduled to start pass through Shahbagh to Asad Gate, Gabtoli to Savar, where they will arrange a rally.

After the rally at Savar, the long march will give a break at Jahangirnagar University for lunch; then it will move to Manikganj where another rally will be arranged.

Participants of long march will stay here in Manikganj for the night.

Convener of national committee to save Oil, Gas, Mineral Wealth, Power, and Port Engineer Sheikh M Shahidullah told banglanews, “This long march is essentially different from all our previous long marches …. It is our duty to save Sundarban as it has been saving us from various natural calamities.”

He also urged every conscious person to join the long march.

On September 25, the long march will move Manikganj to Paturia-Goalanda, arrange a rally in Rajbari, another rally in Faridpur in the afternoon and stay for the night.

On September 26, the long march will move from Faridpur to Madhukhali-Kamarkhali-Magura to Jhenaidah where another rally will be held. In the afternoon, participants will move for a rally in Jessore (here the mach will stop for the night) via Kaliganj.

On September 27, from Jessore to Fultola rally via Noapara, Fulbari Gate-Doulatpur-Khalispur to Khulna Hadis Park rally and stay for the night.

On September 28, the participants will reach in Bagerhat with the long march. There they will read out the declaration of the long march.

BDST: 1158 HRS, SEP 24, 2013
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