Palashbari: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman today stated that Bangladesh would be transformed into a fertile, just, and welfare-oriented country if his party and the 10-party electoral alliance are voted to power, with a special focus on reviving the neglected northern region. “Years of neglect and misrule had turned the once-navigable rivers of northern Bangladesh into ‘dead rivers,’ crippling agriculture and livelihoods,” he told a rally of the 10-party electoral alliance at the SM Pilot High School ground in Palashbari upazila this morning.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shafiqur emphasized that rivers where ships once sailed cannot even support boats today. He asserted that if his party forms the government with the people’s support, their first priority would be to revive these dead rivers and turn North Bengal into an agriculture-based capital of the country. He lamented that no meaningful development had taken place over the past one and a half decades, pushing the entire northern region towards desertification.
Jamaat aims to ensure food security by restoring rivers, expanding irrigation, and supporting farmers who are deprived of fair prices due to extortionists and middlemen. Shafiqur stressed the party’s commitment to uproot extortion and ensure farmers receive their rightful share. Highlighting employment and education, he mentioned plans to provide technical training to unemployed youths to turn idle hands into productive ones.
Given Gaibandha’s agricultural potential, Shafiqur announced plans to establish agricultural universities in the district, emphasizing the urgent need for such institutions in North Bengal. He also pledged to implement, on a priority basis, the long-pending decision to establish an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Gaibandha, aiming to create jobs and process local products for national and global markets.
Dr. Shafiqur expressed Jamaat’s vision for a Bangladesh free from corruption, domination, and injustice, maintaining friendship with all civilized nations while rejecting any form of foreign hegemony. He called for a fundamental change, rejecting the fascist system built over decades. He described the upcoming February 12 election as a ‘public referendum’, urging people to vote ‘Yes’ in honor of the martyrs of the July movement.
Referring to the deprivation of voting rights in the past, he said an entire generation of youths had been denied the chance to vote even once. He advocated for changing the corrupt system that produces killers, grabbers, and criminals, encouraging people to vote ‘Yes’ for that change. Outlining broader development plans, Shafiqur promised improved healthcare through the gradual establishment of medical colleges in every district and the development of specialized hospitals through public and private initiatives.
He also assured initiatives to industrially develop North Bengal, preventing migration to Dhaka in search of work. Additionally, he assured the people of Gaibandha that a bridge would be constructed between Balashi Ghat and Bahadurabad Ghat over the Brahmaputra River to ease communication and accelerate regional development. He pledged to ensure quality education, decent jobs, youth empowerment, children’s mental development, and safe, dignified movement for women both at home and outside.
At the end of the rally, the Jamaat Ameer introduced the alliance-backed candidates of Gaibandha district and sought votes for them. The candidates include Professor Majedur Rahman (Gaibandha-1), Jamaat district Ameer Abdul Karim (Gaibandha-2), Principal Maulana Nazrul Islam (Gaibandha-3), Dr. Abdur Rahim Sarker (Gaibandha-4), and Bir Muktijoddha Abdul Wares (Gaibandha-5). Chaired by Gaibandha district Jamaat Ameer Md. Abdul Karim, the rally was also addressed by central and local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and allied parties, including JAGPA Vice-President and Spokesman Engineer Rashed Pradhan.