Dhaka, Jan. 24 -- Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to take initiatives to restore life to Teesta and other northern rivers if his party forms a 10-party coalition government.

At an election rally organised by the alliance in Gaibandha on Saturday, he said the initiative would not only benefit people in North Bengal but also the wider population of Bangladesh.

"Once the rivers' life is restored, the life of North Bengal will return."

Blaming previous administrations for "failing" to preserve rivers in the region, he said: "Once navigable by large vessels, these rivers now only support small boats. While coming from Dhaka [on Friday], I watched the rivers slowly dry up, and it saddened me."

Shafiqur named four major riv...