Security, stability top voter concerns in Dhaka-10
Tanima Mahjabin, a resident of Elephant Road, has been a victim of mugging at least five times in Dhanmondi and Kalabagan.
After losing her mobile phone in the latest incident, she has come to believe that such crimes cannot be eliminated without ending the criminalisation of politics.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Voters want more than a power shift; they want an end to corruption, extortion and misrule.
Tanima refrained from voting in the last three general elections but is now keenly interested in the upcoming polls.
Since the election schedule was announced, she has been searching for candidates contesting the Dhaka-10 constituency. Having grown up in Hazaribagh, she is well informed about the pulse of the locality.
“Everyone should vote for a qualified candidate regardless of party or symbol. I will vote for whoever can ensure women’s safety,” she told The Daily Star.
Comprising wards 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22 and 55 of the Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka-10 is widely regarded as one of the capital’s most “elite” constituencies.
If corruption, land grabbing, or extortion occurs, I ask the people to contact me directly.
The constituency encompasses vital landmarks, including Dhanmondi Lake, New Market, Jigatola, Tannery Mor, Sat Masjid Road, Green Road, Abahani Grounds, Square Hospital, Shukrabad, Sobhanbagh, Dhaka City College, and Dhaka College.
Despite the modern roads and high-rises, Dhanmondi and Kalabagan frequently witness incidents of mugging and extortion.
Meanwhile, densely populated areas such as Hazaribagh, Jigatola and Kamrangirchar suffer from chronic waterlogging, gas shortages, and a lack of playgrounds.
Mohammad Kabir, who has been running a tea stall in different parts of Dhanmondi for nearly 30 years, said he has faced repeated evictions despite assurances from politicians about permanent space.
Driven by the need for a livelihood, he has set up his stall once again. Now a voter of Dhaka-10, his perspective is grounded in survival.
“The country has many problems, but I believe unemployment is the foremost,” Kabir told The Daily Star. “Unemployment fuels crime, theft, mugging and drug abuse. The new government’s top priority should be top priority.”
The New Market area, a major commercial and educational hub, continues to face traffic congestion, footpath encroachment by hawkers and unplanned parking.
Frequent waterlogging and recurring clashes between students and traders further disrupt daily life.
Abu Sayeed Rubel, member secretary of the New Market Traders’ Association, said ensuring security and maintaining a stable business environment are their main demands from the next MP.
As the election approaches, candidates have intensified door-to-door campaigns and courtyard meetings to understand local grievances.
Md Jashim Uddin Sarker, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Dhaka-10, said voter enthusiasm has increased, especially among young people who were unable to vote in 2014 and 2018.
“They want more than a power shift; they want an end to corruption, extortion and misrule,” he said, identifying security, drainage and gas supply as key issues.
“Extortion, mugging, and the teen gang culture are major threats. Traders live in constant fear of extortion,” he said, promising to solve these issues in phases if elected.
He also stressed the need for a level playing field, citing the recent killing of Osman Hadi as evidence that armed criminals remain active.
BNP candidate Sheikh Rabiul Alam described Dhaka-10 as a diverse constituency, housing both working-class and elite residential zones, with varying voter expectations.
“I have adopted a strategy to reach people by considering these differing realities,” he said.
Emphasising the BNP’s goal of establishing a participatory state system and an accountable government, Rabiul said, “In the past, many MPs of this constituency were not residents of this area. Many voters feel that elected representatives disappear after elections.”
“I live here and have always stood beside the people, even during the last 17 difficult years. By any means, I will be here for the people,” he said.
He pledged zero tolerance for political criminalisation. “If corruption, land grabbing, or extortion occurs, I ask the people to contact me directly,” he said, urging everyone to vote spontaneously.
Both major candidates promised to address long-standing tensions between students and traders in the New Market area.
Other candidates contesting in this constituency are -- Md A Awal (Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Nasreen Sultana (AB Party), Abu Hanif Hridoy (Bangladesh Republican Party), Abul Kalam Azad (Bangladesh Labor Party), Anisur Rahman (Muktijote), Abdullah Al Hussain (Amjanata Dal), Banhi Bepari (Jatiya Party), and Md Zakir Hossain (Janata Dal).
Dhaka-10 has 388,660 voters -- up by 63,727 from the last election -- including 204,604 men, 184,050 women and six hijra voters.
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