Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said there is no alternative to implementing the Teesta Master Plan to restore the river’s health and ensure the overall well-being of people in the northern region.
“If the Teesta is made healthy, the people of the northern region will be healthy. We want to keep our word. We do not want to engage in politics for the sake of politics. We will reshape North Bengal. Therefore, the Teesta Master Plan must be implemented,” he said.
He added that if the 10-party alliance comes to power in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election, work on the Teesta Master Plan would begin immediately. “We will first hit the Teesta with a spade and start eliminating development disparities in North Bengal by implementing the Teesta Master Plan,” he said.
Dr Shafiqur made the remarks as the chief guest at a rally organised by the 10-party electoral alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, marking the referendum and the upcoming 13th JS elections at Rangpur Public Library ground on Friday night. Rangpur Metropolitan Jamaat President ATM Azam Khan presided over the event.
Addressing employment issues, Dr Shafiqur said the alliance did not believe in making false promises. “We do not want to give unemployment allowances. We do not want to build factories merely for the unemployed. Rather, we want to eliminate unemployment,” he said.
He added that the focus would be on enhancing the skills of unemployed youths and providing dignified employment instead of allowances. “We want to provide work to the deserving and permanently eradicate unemployment,” he said.
On women’s participation in the workforce, he said questions were often raised about opportunities for women if the alliance was elected. “If mothers and sisters can function within the home, why can’t they function in society?” he asked.
“Just as a home cannot function without women, society cannot function without women. Women of all races and religions will be given opportunities to work according to their skills,” he added.
Dr Shafiqur also said Jamaat-e-Islami had demonstrated its commitment to keeping promises. “We promised after August 5 that we would not engage in litigation. We have not filed thousands of cases. We have not extorted money. We have not said that someone’s name was mistakenly included in a case and demanded fees to remove it. We do not want to put any innocent person in jail,” he said.
He stressed that religion is a matter of inner belief and should not be imposed, reiterating his vision for the country. “Many people ask what Bangladesh will look like in the future. I want to say clearly that we do not want to turn our beloved country into Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan. We want to build a Bangladesh of pride,” he said.
Praising the people of Rangpur, Dr Shafiqur said they were humble and often unable to articulate their demands strongly. “That is why we cannot behave like step-brothers. Rangpur and the northern region are the country’s granary. Agro-based industries will be developed here. We must revolutionise the agricultural sector through modern technology,” he said.
He described North Bengal as the future hub of an agricultural revolution, saying agriculture-based universities would be established, factories set up and foreign investment encouraged. “We do not want North Bengal to remain deprived any longer,” he added.
The Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer said the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan would open up new avenues of development in the region. “We will, God willing, develop agro-based industries in various areas. Fair prices for farmers’ produce will be ensured, and proper storage facilities will be arranged,” he said.
He noted that fruits produced in North Bengal could supply the entire country year-round, but due to a lack of storage facilities, they often rot or are sold off hastily. “We want to relieve our farmer brothers in North Bengal from this suffering,” he added.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman also highlighted Jamaat-e-Islami’s past administrative record. “Our three brothers served in three ministries, and there are no allegations against them. They carried out their duties honestly and efficiently,” he said.
At the start of his speech, he called for national unity. “We do not want to divide the country and the nation any further. Strengthen our hands by responding to the call for equality and unity. If we get the opportunity to serve the people through the elections, we will say: let us run the country together for the next five years,” he said.
He added that three conditions would guide their governance: no corruption, no shelter for the corrupt, and justice for all, alongside a firm departure from corrupt politics.
“The people of the country want to build a society where fascism does not return and corruption does not thrive again. The youth, especially those who shed blood during the mass uprising, are eager for change. We are committed to them and ready to continue the struggle for as long as it takes,” he said.
During the rally, Dr Shafiqur introduced the candidates of the 10-party electoral alliance for the six parliamentary constituencies in Rangpur, urging voters to support them under the ‘Scales’ and ‘Shapla Koli’ symbols.
Those who also addressed the rally included Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer and Rangpur-2 constituency candidate ATM Azharul Islam, Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary and Rangpur-4 constituency candidate Akhter Hossen, Jamaat central member and Rangpur-3 constituency candidate Mahbubar Rahman Belal, Jamaat candidate for Rangpur-1 Raihan Siraji, District Jamaat Ameer and Rangpur-5 candidate Golam Rabbani, and Chhatra Shibir Central Secretary General Sibgatullah Sigba, among other party leaders.
