Election Campaign of Dhaka-9: ‘Three rookies set for neck and neck battle’
City Desk :
Mohammed Badal, a furniture craftsman living in Basabo under the Dhaka-9 constituency, has yet to decide who will receive his vote.
Among the dozen candidates contesting this seat, which comprises Sabujbagh, Motijheel, Demra, and Manda thanas, the three names dominating local conversation are all “rookies on the campaign trail”, according to Badal.
He said: “This time, all three are contesting for the first time, and they are all incredibly sharp.
“In fact, so sharp that the public is struggling to decide which way to turn.”
Badal was referring to Habibur Rashid Habib, nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); Tasnim Jara, an independent candidate; and Mohammed Javed Mia Rasin, the candidate for the National Citizen Party (NCP), representing an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
While Habib is a newcomer to the ballot, he is 53 years old.
His two main rivals are significantly younger; Rasin is 36, while Jara is 32.
Badal believes the election will be a “neck-and-neck fight” between the three.
Visits to Basabo and Manda on Monday revealed a “palpable election fever”.
Candidates were seen campaigning in groups, with election songs blaring from vans.
The atmosphere was a mix of local meet-ups and door-to-door canvassing, with a noticeable presence of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police personnel on the streets.
Dhaka-9 covers wards 1 through 7 and 71 through 75 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), reports bdnews24.com. The constituency has a total of 469,360 voters, with 5,954 expected to cast their votes via postal ballot.
BNP’s Habib is running under the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, independent Jara under the “Football”, and the NCP’s Javed under the “Shapla Koli” (water lily bud).
Nine more candidates are also in the fray, representing parties ranging from the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (Hand Fan) and Jatiya Party (Plough) to the CPB (Sickle) and the Muslim League (Hurricane Lamp).
The concerns of the electorate are practical and immediate. Mahmuda Akter, a housewife from the Basabo Chayabithi area, said “The main issue here is the gas crisis, though I hear that’s a problem across Dhaka.
“Another reality is the roads being dug up and left unfinished. We’ve also seen a massive increase in battery-powered autorickshaws.” “I will vote for whoever can solve these issues,” she added. “But I haven’t decided who that is yet.”
At a local eatery near Basabo field, the owner, Mohammed Shahjahan, emphasised infrastructure: “The roads need proper repair. And Mugda Medical College needs to be expanded so it can serve more people.”
In his view, BNP’s Habib is currently leading the race.
In response to these concerns, the candidates have offered a flurry of pledges.
The BNP candidate has promised to modernise Mugda Hospital, focus on youth and education, and ensure social security for women, children, and the elderly.
He also pledged a drug-free society and communal harmony.
Jara proposed a “no service, no bill” policy to resolve the gas crisis. She is campaigning on a platform of eliminating political recommendations and quotas for school admissions, turning Mugda Hospital into a model service centre, and tackling terrorism and drugs.
NCP’s Javed is promising permanent road repairs, the implementation of a drainage master plan to prevent waterlogging, 24-hour healthcare, and a crackdown on “teen gangs” and narcotics.