Outlines plan for Teesta, dying riversJamaat chief vows to protect Uprising ‘legacy’

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to safeguard the legacy left by Abu Sayed and other martyrs of the July 2024 Uprising, saying the party is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to uphold what they died for.

On Saturday morning, he visited Abu Sayed’s grave in Rangpur and met his family to offer condolences.

Shafiqur noted that Jamaat would continue working to realise the martyrs’ vision of an independent Bangladesh free of corruption, inequality and injustice.

“We have no personal dreams of our own. Their dreams are our dreams,” he said.

He also warned that no inch of the country’s land would be compromised, pledging the same courage shown by the martyrs themselves.

At the same time, he demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible for Abu Sayed’s death.

Addressing young and first-time voters, the veteran politician said the future of society and leadership lies in their hands.

Jamaat Supremo also said that his party will always support them with strength, guidance and care.

He stressed that Jamaat has never abandoned people in times of repression or crisis and will not do so in the future. He said life may be lost, but the party will never bow to injustice.

Outlined Party's Vision

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to take initiatives to restore life to Teesta and other northern rivers if his party forms a 10-party coalition government.

At an election rally organised by the alliance in Gaibandha on Saturday, he said the initiative would not only benefit people in North Bengal but also the wider population of Bangladesh.

“Once the rivers’ life is restored, the life of North Bengal will return.”

Blaming previous administrations for “failing” to preserve rivers in the region, he said: “Once navigable by large vessels, these rivers now only support small boats. While coming from Dhaka [on Friday], I watched the rivers slowly dry up, and it saddened me."

Shafiqur named four major rivers of the region -- the Teesta, Dharla, Karatoya and Brahmaputra -- saying all are facing the same fate.

“Allah bestowed these rivers as blessings for North Bengal, yet today their condition is identical,” he said.

He likened rivers to arteries, saying that when they dry, life and productivity in the region suffer.

North Bangladesh has been mistreated

The Jamaat chief also outlined his vision of transforming North Bengal into an agriculturally focused hub, noting that local farmers work hard yet struggle due to depleted fertile land caused by the loss of freshwater flows.

He added that alongside the Teesta mega-project, a comprehensive plan would be launched to revive all northern rivers.

Earlier on Friday, he made the remarks while addressing an election rally organised by the Ten-Party Unity Alliance at the Panchagarh District Sugar Mill ground.

Calling North Bangladesh “part of the heart of the nation,” Shafiqur said the region feeds and nourishes the country, yet continues to lag behind due to neglect.

He said that North Bangladesh, despite playing a vital role in bolstering the country’s food supply, has been deliberately deprived since the country’s independence.

“Since the creation of Bangladesh, North Bangladesh has not been poor — it has been kept poor.”

The Jamaat chief said his alliance does not want any part of the region to remain behind if it comes to power.

“We want to restore your dignity,” he told the crowd.