Dhaka 5 electorate wants end to gas, water crisis

As the countdown to the 13th National Parliament election gathers pace, the alleys and intersections of Dhaka 5, one of the capital's strategic gateways, have turned the constituency into a neighbourhood of banners, festoons and billboards of aspiring candidates.

Covering Jatrabari and Demra police stations and wards 48 to 70 of Dhaka South City Corporation, the constituency numbered 178 has emerged as a political flashpoint, marked by promises, positioning and sharp electoral calculations. BNP-nominated candidate Nabiullah Nabi stressed the importance of competition. 

"If there is no contest, the election cannot be fair," he said, adding that he is campaigning door to door with the party's sheaf-of-paddy symbol. Recalling the 2018 polls, he claimed, "Despite that disastrous election, I received 69,000 votes in just two hours. With a level playing field, I believe securing three lakh votes is possible."

Outlining his priorities, Nabi pledged zero tolerance against drugs, terrorism and extortion. "With law enforcers and residents working together, Dhaka 5 will be made crime-free," he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Mohammad Kamal Hossain invoked the memory of the July Uprising, describing Dhaka 5 as a frontline of resistance. "People here demand justice, good governance and humane leadership," he said, citing chronic deficits in education, healthcare and employment. "After 17 years without genuine voting rights, this election offers a historic chance to build a new Bangladesh."

Other potential contenders include Abdul Matin Saud of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Haji Md Ibrahim of Islami Andolan, and candidates from smaller parties including Labour Party, LDP, BSP (Marxist) and Gono Odhikar Parishad. Residents, however, appear more focused on daily civic woes than party labels. "Solve gas, water and waterlogging problems-that's my priority," said Jatrabari resident Farid Uddin. Shopkeeper Rahmat Ali emphasised women's safety, terrorism control and mosquito eradication.

With 505,692 voters, Dhaka 5-long a swing seat-now stands poised between political legacy and public expectation, as banners flutter with rival promises ahead of a high-stakes contest.