Jamaat Amir Promises to Transform Maheshkhali-Kutubdia into an International Trade Hub

Feb 02, 2026
Politics

Image: Jamaat Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman Speaking at Election Rally in Maheshkhali (Collected)

PNN News Desk: Maheshkhali

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said that if his party comes to power, the people will not have to depend on humiliating welfare allowances; instead, opportunities for dignified employment will be created.

He stated that the deep-sea port in Matarbari, centered around Maheshkhali and Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar, is planned to be developed into an international trade hub.

Speaking at an election rally in Maheshkhali on Monday, he said that with proper planning and goodwill, this area could be developed into an economic zone better than Singapore or Hong Kong.

Criticizing the current political reality, he said that a new Bangladesh cannot be built with old and ineffective leadership. To move the country forward, he added, the “rotten” politics of the past must change.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also mentioned that if given the chance to form a government, initiatives will be taken to protect and modernize the salt industry in Cox’s Bazar, a long-standing demand of the local population.

He emphasized that the country’s future lies in unity, not divisive politics. The leaders of the 11-party alliance present at the rally also expressed their support for the “Yes” vote, along with other local party symbols.