Speakers at a rally, organised by Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) in front of Muktangan urged the people to spontaneously join the three-day long march programme beginning on December 24 towards Indian proposed Tipaimukh dam.

As the AL government has failed to protest the Indian move, IAB chief and Pirsaheb of Charmonai Mufti Syed Rezaul Karim has announced the long march programme to protect livelihood of three crore people and biodiversities of the country from the disastrous impact of the proposed dam, they added.

IAB city unit president Prof Maulana ATM Hemayet Uddin presided over the rally while it was addressed, among others, by joint secretary of the party Prof Mahbubur Rahman, organising secretary Prof Syed Belayet Hossain, Alhaj Mohammad Altaf Hossain and Shahidul Islam Kabir.

The speakers sounding a note of caution said if the government creates any obstacle to foil the programme, a strong movement would be launched against it.

After the rally, a big procession was brought out which paraded different city streets.

Meanwhile, 151 doctors in a joint statement espressed solidarity to the long march.

The doctors who issued the statemnent include Dr Moazzem Hossain, Dr Abu Mahmud, Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, Dr Mohammad Siddikur Rahman, Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Shafiqul Islam, Dr Mujibur Rahman, Dr Jinarul Islam, Dr Rezaul Karim and Dr Shahjahan.

The preparation to make success the three-day long march is at the final stage. Thousands of people from 72 organising district units of IAB and the thana units are taking preparation to participate in the long march towards Tipaimukh in Monipur state in India, says a press release of IAB.

The leaders and workers of the party across the country, particularly the districts and thana units of Sylhet Division, are working hard to make the programme successful, the press release added.