Dr Shafique vows Teesta plans, medical colleges in every dists

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to upgrade Saidpur Airport to international status and establish government medical colleges in every district if his party comes to power, outlining a development-focused agenda ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections.
Shafiqur made the commitments on Friday while addressing a public rally organised by Jamaat-e-Islami at the Thakurgaon District School ground. Emphasising the untapped potential of northern Bangladesh, he said improved connectivity and healthcare infrastructure were essential to ensuring balanced national development.
Declaring northern Bangladesh as the country’s future “agricultural capital,” the Jamaat chief said an international airport in the region would enable direct export of vegetables and fruits from Thakurgaon and Dinajpur to markets in the Middle East and Europe. Such connectivity, he added, would boost employment opportunities and accelerate industrialisation.
Besides, Jamaat Ameer also vowed for Teesta master plan saying it will be top priority if Jamaat comes to power.
“Revitalising rivers is the only sustainable solution to end deprivation and hardship in the country’s northern region,” he said.
Addressing an election rally at the Public Library ground in Rangpur, he said the Teesta, Dharla, Brahmaputra and Karatoa rivers are blessings from Allah, but have suffered years of neglect and exploitation.
He also pledged to establish specialised cold storage facilities across northern districts to preserve perishable agricultural produce and ensure fair prices for farmers.
Turning to the healthcare sector, Shafiqur said the country’s medical system was under severe strain, with Dhaka-based hospitals facing overwhelming pressure due to the lack of modern facilities in many districts.
“Many districts still do not have access to advanced healthcare services,” he said, pledging to establish modern government medical colleges and specialised hospitals in every district to reduce dependence on Dhaka and bring quality healthcare closer to people’s homes.
At a separate election rally held on Friday at the Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School ground, Shafiqur reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami’s opposition to one-party rule, saying the party favours governance led by the people.
“We do not want the rule of a single party; we want the rule of the people,” he said. “There will be Islamic scholars and patriotic citizens who love the country and do not accept domination. Together, we will build the Bangladesh of the future.”
“Our only card is you, the people,” he added, saying Jamaat seeks to build a self-reliant Bangladesh through public support, goodwill and prayers.
Shafiqur claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami had never abandoned the people during times of crisis and would remain committed to serving them in the future.
Reflecting on the country’s 54 years of political history, he said Bangladesh had been pushed into decline due to what he described as corrupt politics, misrule and systemic discrimination, stressing the need for structural reform.
Focusing again on northern Bangladesh, the Jamaat ameer said the region was not poor after independence but was deliberately neglected over the years.
“This region feeds and nourishes the country, yet it has been treated like a stepchild,” he said.
He further pledged to eliminate unemployment in the region, saying every young man and woman would be turned into a “nation-builder” through dignified employment. He also promised to reopen closed sugar mills to restore jobs for workers.