If voted into power, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will revive all idle factories, including Keru & Company, said the party’s Ameer, Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
He said Keru & Company’s sugar mill was once one of the country’s largest, but is now virtually defunct. “We pledge—Insha’Allah—to bring all closed mills, factories and industrial establishments back into operation,” he said while addressing an election rally at Meherpur Government High School field on Monday (January 26).
Dr Shafiqur Rahman said theft, corruption and plundering would be completely stopped, and no one would be allowed to loot state resources. “When corruption and waste are eliminated, mills and industries will naturally regain new life,” he added.
He further said reopening factories would create employment for thousands of people, boost domestic production and strengthen the economy. “This will lead to the establishment of new factories and more jobs. We want employment, not unemployment. Insha’Allah, our goal is to build a production-oriented economy and turn the country into a prosperous state,” he said.
The Jamaat chief also said that if his party comes to power, extortionists would not be rehabilitated, but instead provided with employment opportunities so they are not driven back to extortion. He claimed that although Meherpur is a small district, it has fallen under the grip of extortionists. “If Jamaat comes to power with the people’s mandate, we will take responsibility for them and arrange employment so they no longer engage in extortion,” he said.
On the election, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said a “Yes” vote in the referendum would mean freedom, while a “No” vote would mean slavery. “Our first vote will be a ‘Yes’ vote. If everyone ensures a ‘Yes’ vote, the country will be victorious,” he added.
