Staff Reporter:

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to revitalise Sirajganj’s struggling economy and turn the district into an industrial hub by harnessing its local strengths, particularly in the dairy and traditional weaving sectors.

Addressing a rally organised by the 10-party alliance at the Sirajganj Government College ground on Saturday (24 January), Shafiqur outlined Jamaat’s development roadmap for the district, with a focus on value addition, employment generation and reducing import dependence.

Describing Sirajganj as the country’s “milk reservoir,” he said Bangladesh spent around Tk5,000 crore importing powdered milk in the 2024-25 fiscal year, while local dairy farmers were being denied fair prices for their produce.

“Farmers here are incurring losses and even protesting by pouring milk on the streets. This is shameful for the national economy,” he said.

Shafiqur promised that under a coalition government, Sirajganj’s milk would no longer be sent to Dhaka for processing.

“We will establish a modern, technology-based powdered milk factory in Sirajganj itself. This will ensure fair prices for farmers, create jobs for thousands of unemployed youths and save foreign exchange by cutting imports,” he added.

Turning to the district’s traditional weaving industry, he said the sector was on the brink of collapse due to a lack of raw materials, weak marketing networks and the absence of government patronage.

“Weavers are in distress, and many people have lost their livelihoods as the industry has stagnated,” he said, pledging to ensure easy access to raw materials, improve product quality and link local producers to global markets.

He went on to say, “We will restore the weaving industry to its lost glory.”

Addressing river erosion, one of Sirajganj’s most pressing challenges, Shafiqur alleged widespread corruption in embankment and protection works, including the use of bamboo in place of steel rods.

“If we can build a corruption-free Bangladesh, development funds will not disappear into the riverbed,” he said, adding that proper dredging would restore navigability and boost fisheries and inland waterways.

The Jamaat ameer also stressed that tackling unemployment would require strengthening cottage and small industries across the country.

Outlining Jamaat’s conditions for joining a future government, he said corruption would not be tolerated or protected, justice must be ensured for all citizens irrespective of religion or economic status, and the rule of law must apply equally to everyone.

“Even if the president commits a crime, he must face the same trial as an ordinary citizen,” he said.