Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former Member of Parliament, Professor Mia Golam Porwar, said:“Bill Dakatia is the second largest wetland in Bangladesh. For the hundreds of thousands of people in Phultala-Dumuria, this bill (wetland) is the only source of livelihood. The persistent waterlogging in Bill Dakatia causes indescribable suffering and misery for the people of this region, which always pains me deeply. I too am a son of this soil. Our family also has land in this bill. Therefore, your suffering is our suffering as well. After my release from prison following the mass student-people’s uprising last August, I learned about the waterlogging of this bill. Considering the plight of the local people, I personally visited the Ministry of Water Resources, the Water Development Board, the DC, and the UNO offices of Phultala and Dumuria to try to resolve the problem of waterlogging.

Here waterlogging occurs in two ways: first, naturally; second, man-made. We have no control over nature. That is solely under the control of Almighty Allah. However, due to selfish interests, millions of people are thrown into distress when influential quarters block canals and bills with embankments, occupy land, and under the pretext of fish farming seize canals. As a result, water cannot flow naturally, and waterlogging occurs.

Last week, I met with the advisor at the Ministry and briefed him your sufferings. He immediately formed a committee and sent the Director General of the Water Development Board to determine the necessary measures for resolving the waterlogging. Last Friday, the DG came and outlined three stages of action. On the other hand, if all the sluice gates are opened, one side will be relieved but our brothers on the other side will be harmed. Therefore, a system must be arranged so that people on both sides can live well.

Today, after discussions regarding this Kalighat polder, I have opened it to a tolerable level. And our efforts to remove the waterlogging of Bill Dakatia, Bill Baduria, Bill Madhugram, and all other bills will continue.”

He said this as the chief guest while addressing a gathering before opening the polder of Kalighat Sluice Gate at Rangpur Union, Dumuria Upazila, Khulna district on Wednesday.

Among others Khulna district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Emran Hussain, Secretary Munshi Moinul Islam, Assistant Secretary Munshi Moinul Islam, Professor Mia Golam Quddus, Principal Gawsul Azam Hadi, Master Sheikh Sirajul Islam, Advocate Abu Yusuf Molya, Dumuria Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Atik, Dumuria Upazila Ameer Maulana Moktar Hossain, Secretary Maulana Sirajul Islam, Phultala Upazila Secretary Maulana Saiful Hasan Khan, Jamaat leaders Sheikh Md. Alauddin, Md. Aslam Sardar, Nur Islam Gazi, Md. Mokit Sheikh and many others were present on the occasion.

Later, the former MP visited Kharshanda KKB Karami Madrasa and Tina Fazlul Ulum Qaumi Madrasa, where he exchanged views with teachers and students. Earlier, at 8 a.m., at the Ranai Women’s Dakhil Madrasa ground of Kharnia Union under Dumuria Upazila, he addressed a voter rally organized by Union Jamaat-e-Islami as chief guest. Presided over by Union Ameer Sheikh Abul Hossain, special guests included district Ameer Maulana Emran Hussain, Secretary Munshi Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Secretary Munshi Moinul Islam, Professor Mia Golam Quddus, Advocate Abu Yusuf Molya, and educationist and former International Affairs Secretary of Islami Chhatrashibir Dr. Ekram Uddin Sumon.

The Secretary General said: “If in the coming election you elect honest, qualified, Allah-fearing people, then all people of this region—both Hindu and Muslim—will be able to live in peace and happiness. Over the past 54 years you have seen the rule of various parties, but there was no peace among the people. Corruption and misrule left people oppressed and persecuted. Therefore, to build a prosperous Bangladesh of the future, you must vote for the symbol of justice and fairness—the balance scale—and create a wave of support for the balance symbol in every home.”

In another voter rally at Tipna’s Notun Rasta Bazar of Kharnia Union, the Secretary General said: “I had freed this terror-stricken region of Phultala-Dumuria from terrorism with the help of the administration, risking my own life. I had carried out as much development as I could for Dumuria’s roads, mosques, madrasas, temples, cremation grounds, graveyards, and educational institutions. For the last 16–17 years, this constituency even had a full minister. You all know how much development he achieved. But I can say this much: after the student-people’s uprising, I became the Secretary General of my party, and since then I have been trying, as far as I can, to develop my area.”

“In the future, if you re-elect me with your votes, then, InshaAllah, I will complete the unfinished tasks of this region just as I did in the past, rising above corruption.”

Earlier, Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar visited flood-affected Shinga village in Dumuria and exchanged views with the villagers at Shinga Government Primary School. At that time, he provided financial assistance to two Puja Mandaps and promised to quickly complete the unfinished bridge over the Beron River—left incomplete due to a fleeing contractor—which is the only bridge connecting that village.

At 12:30 p.m., the Secretary General visited the families of the dead and injured in the recent head-on collision between a truck and a CNG at Jhiler Danga area of Dumuria, and provided financial assistance. He also visited the graves of the deceased and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. At 8:30 p.m., a yard meeting was held in Ward No. 9 of Atara-Gilatala Union of Phultala Upazila under the chairmanship of ward president Sheikh Abdul Khalek, where the Secretary General delivered speech as chief guest.