Staff Correspondent:
If Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami gets a chance to form a government, a government medical college will be established in every district of the country, said the party’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. He said, “If we can form a government by the grace of Allah, there will be no discrimination. The country will be run with the fear of Allah.”
He made these remarks as the chief guest at a public meeting of the 10-party electoral unity held at the large field of Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School on Friday (January 23) afternoon. The public meeting was presided over by Central Majlish-e-Shura member and Thakurgaon District Ameer Belal Uddin Pradhan.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, North Bengal is called the granary of Bangladesh. Although almost one-third of the country’s total food production is produced in this region, the people here have been victims of discrimination for generations due to corruption and misrule. Farmers have been deprived of their fair share. If there was proper planning and justice-based governance, North Bengal would have become the agricultural capital of Bangladesh today.
He said, if farmers were given loans on easy terms and without interest, then three times the crop production would have been possible. If there was a justice-based state system, farmers would have received fair prices and middlemen would not have been able to loot their crops. Modern storage facilities will be built in different parts of the country to prevent wastage of agricultural products.
Urging the people of Thakurgaon, the Jamaat Ameer said, “This time, vote not for just one party, but for the 10-party unity of freedom-loving people. We cannot build Bangladesh alone. We have to unite a united nation to build a just state.”
He said, to build the Bangladesh of the future, three conditions must be met—
One. No one can commit corruption and the corrupt cannot be given shelter.
Two. Justice must be ensured for all, regardless of the poor or rich, male or female, religion or caste.
- There can be no political interference in the judiciary; the judiciary will remain completely independent.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman further said, “If we want to change 54 years of rotten politics and discrimination, we must say ‘yes’ to all types of referendums.” He said that those who do not support extortionists, are not involved in extortion themselves and are committed to stopping extortionists—these people should be elected.
Addressing the countrymen, he said that if we get the opportunity to form a government, North Bengal will be transformed into the proud agricultural capital. Syedpur Airport will be upgraded to international standards so that industries can develop and agricultural products can reach the world market. The communication system will be developed and every house will be transformed into an industry through training of the youth.
He said that 10 thousand taka will be spent every month from the state treasury to make students skilled before entering the job. “We don’t want to give unemployment allowance, we want to give work. Unemployment allowance is humiliating—we want to hand over the key to honor,” he said.
At the public meeting, the Ameer-e-Jamaat introduced the candidates of the 10-party electoral alliance for the three parliamentary constituencies of Thakurgaon. They are—Md. Delwar Hossain for Thakurgaon-1 constituency, Maulana Abdul Hakim for Thakurgaon-2 constituency, and Master Mizanur Rahman for Thakurgaon-3 constituency. At this time, the scales symbol was handed over to them.
Also present at the public meeting were Jamaat Central Executive Council member Maulana Abdul Halim, NCP’s chief organizer (northern region) and Panchagarh-1 MP candidate Sarjis Alam, JAGPA vice-president Engineer Rashed Pradhan, and leaders of various partner parties of the 10-party alliance.
Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah Sibga said that the country’s development has been repeatedly hampered due to corrupt and extortionists. He also alleged that the people have not received justice in various incidents. He mentioned February 12 as an important day on the path to building a new Bangladesh.
NCP Joint Chief Coordinator Golam Mortuza, Jamaat Central Working Committee Member Advocate Helal Uddin, Chhatra Shibir Central Library Secretary Sohel Rana, Raksu VP Mostakur Rahman (Zahid), Sanatan Dharmabhabhi leader Jatish Babu, NCP Thakurgaon District Convener Rakibul Alam and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish District President Sayeed Ahmed Saifi also spoke at the public meeting.
