Jamaat to turn northern region into agro-industries hub

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has said that the party will turn the entire northern region into a hub of agro-industries if it comes to power. 

“Universities and research laboratories will be established in the area for this purpose," he said at an election rally on Nawabganj Government College ground in Chapainawabganj on Thursday.

"The July Revolution demanded justice and establishing justice remains the Jamaat’s goal. The same law will apply to both the rulers and the people," he added.   

Shafiqur Rahman said the old political arrangements must end to establish a new system. “People of Bangladesh are tired of 54 years of rule and misrule. Now, they want change."

He promised equal justice for all, regardless of religion, caste or gender, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and small ethnic communities. 

Addressing the local people, Shafiqur said Chapainawabganj is fertile and known as the “mango capital,” but the district lacks enough cold storage. 

Moreover, the Mahananda River is almost dead now; therefore, rivers will be revived, river-based communication systems will be built and they will be treated as national assets. In addition, proper water distribution will be ensured through dams, he added.

The Jamaat ameer also said people would reject the old system and welcome the new one, urging voters to choose the weighing scale symbol for a fair, corruption-free and neutral Bangladesh.

Special guests at the rally included Nurul Islam Bulbul, central executive council member of Jamaat and Ameer of Dhaka South, Dhaka University Central Students' Union General Secretary SM Farhad, Chattogram University Central Students' Union Vice-President Ibrahim Rony, while other district-level leaders of Jamaat were present at the event.

Speaking at the rally in Naogaon at 11:30am, the Jamaat ameer said his X account was hacked and false attacks had been carried out against him over the last five days.

He said the allegations were completely false and fabricated, and claimed that those who want to keep the country subjugated were behind such activities. 

He added that Jamaat’s cyber team has already identified those involved.

Leaders, activists and supporters of the party were seen heading towards the rally venue from the city’s Dhaka Bus Stand. The presence of women was particularly noticeable, as thousands of women joined the programme spontaneously.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said it pains him to think that people who once faced repression together on the streets are now putting pressure on him. 

He added that he has forgiven his old friends and left their judgment to Allah, saying he has not responded to any of the remarks made about him so far.

Referring to the July movement, the Jamaat ameer said, “The students who took to the streets for people’s freedom did not demand unemployment allowances. Then why is this talk of unemployment allowance coming up now? We promise to train and educate the youth of this country and prepare them as builders of the nation.”

Addressing the people of Naogaon, he said the district supplies one-tenth of the country’s total fruit demand and pledged efforts to further develop the area.

He announced several promises, including widening city roads from two lanes to four lanes, ensuring higher education for girls up to the master’s level at government expense, establishing a full-fledged medical college and hospital in the district, setting up an agricultural university and research institute to turn North Bengal into an agro-industry hub, and developing historical sites such as Kusumba Mosque and Paharpur Buddhist Bihar as tourist destinations.

Criticising previous rulers, the Jamaat ameer said those who came to power only empowered themselves; they failed to empower the people and carried out large-scale corruption in the name of mega projects. 

He further said that the money belongs to the people and vowed that no one would be allowed to steal or loot it again, warning that those who try to take public money abroad would not be allowed to live in peace.

Top central and district-level leaders of Jamaat and its 11-party alliance partners also addressed the rally.

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