Jamaat Demands Balanced Development, Calls for International Status for Saidpur Airport

PNN News Desk, Dhaka
Mia Golam Porwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has alleged regional and political bias in development activities. He said that government projects are being implemented ignoring public opinion and referendum results.

Speaking to journalists at Saidpur Airport on Saturday morning, he said development activities have become concentrated in specific regions. According to him, initiatives such as a city corporation, new upazila, university, and international airport in the same area are not aligned with the principles of balanced development.

He said development should be based on the needs of all regions. If projects are distributed based on ruling party influence or political considerations, it creates inequality.

He demanded that Saidpur Airport be upgraded to an international airport. According to him, this is a long-standing demand of people in the northern region, and its implementation would positively impact the economy and communication system of Rangpur and Dinajpur regions.

Criticizing the BNP, he said the party is failing to take clear positions on various public interest issues, which could create negative political consequences.

He also expressed concern about media freedom, alleging that journalists expressing dissent are facing pressure and harassment.

Earlier, he arrived at Saidpur by flight from Dhaka. He was accompanied by Maulana Abdul Halim, Atikur Rahman, and Golam Rabbani.

They were received at the airport by Maulana Abdul Muntakim, Maulana Antazul Islam, and Moniruzzaman, after which they left for Panchagarh.