As the country heads into a national election with the participation of almost all major political parties, except the activities-banned Awami League, questions persist over voter enthusiasm, electoral conduct, rival behaviour and local governance. Journalist Hedayet Ullah Khan spoke to BNP-nominated Dhaka-8 candidate and the party’s Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas about the electoral environment, allegations from rivals, concerns over voter rolls and his vision for Dhaka.
Reporter: After a long time, people are expecting to vote freely and without fear. How do you assess voter enthusiasm?
Mirza Abbas: People are very enthusiastic. There is a festive feeling surrounding voting–one can sense it. People are eager to cast their votes.
Reporter: Personally, how are you experiencing this election?
Mirza Abbas: To be honest, there is no real environment to enjoy the election. The behaviour of opposition parties, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami and their allies, is not conducive to a healthy electoral atmosphere. Many activities are taking place that could harm the election. Seeing all this makes it difficult to enjoy the process. I have taken part in many elections in my life, but I still cannot understand how this one will turn out. Only after polling day will we be able to judge what kind of election it truly was.
Reporter: Do you believe the Interim Government is influencing the election?
Mirza Abbas: Looking at certain incidents, one is reminded of the saying, “Leaves do not move without wind.” There must be problems somewhere; otherwise, so many parties would not be speaking in such terms. However, these are not matters I can discuss on record at this moment.
Reporter: One of your rivals – Nasiruddin Patwary, the 11-party electoral alliance candidate – has accused you of terrorism, extortion and land grabbing. How do you respond?
Mirza Abbas: A famous writer once said that when a shop is closed, you cannot tell what is inside, but when it opens, you can. When they speak, it becomes clear what lies within them. I do not wish to respond to such allegations. Replying to nonsense only creates further confusion.
Reporter: Have you lodged complaints with the Election Commission?
Mirza Abbas: Yes. I have submitted multiple complaints regarding his statements, behaviour and even body language, stating that the electoral environment has become intolerable.
Reporter: Has the Election Commission taken any action?
Mirza Abbas: So far, I have not seen any effective initiative. I have not even received replies to my complaints. At this point, it appears they are taking sides.
Reporter: If elected, what are your promises for the constituency?
Mirza Abbas: People in my area no longer speak about crises because they know I take initiative before they even raise issues. Many demands have already been fulfilled–hospitals, graveyards, playgrounds, markets and colleges. At present, there are no major new demands that stand out.
Reporter: What is your specific vision for Dhaka-8?
Mirza Abbas: I cannot think only in terms of my constituency. I am a former Mayor of Dhaka city. As the capital, Dhaka requires planned development. The biggest problems are waterlogging and mosquitoes. WASA and the City Corporation must function effectively. If given proper authority along with responsibility, I can bring visible change within a month.
Reporter: There is a large number of homeless and drug-addicted people in Dhaka-8. How do you view this situation?
Mirza Abbas: Teenage vagabonds are no longer as visible as before. Where they have gone is something the nation needs to know. The government is responsible for elderly homeless people. As for drugs and extortion, I have taken action before and will do so again. After 5 August, I stopped extortion, but now it has started again. I also shut down casino gambling in the Motijheel area. People used to come from villages and end up ruined. I put an end to that practice.
Reporter: There is extensive propaganda against you on social media. How will you address this?
Mirza Abbas: That responsibility lies with the Election Commission. If they wish, they can take action. It is not our role to control social media.
Reporter: Recently, you said that nearly half of Dhaka-8’s voters cannot be located.
Mirza Abbas: Yes, and that is deeply concerning. Out of 280,000 voters, nearly half cannot be found. This raises serious questions–who are these voters? If they cannot be located, I would urge the Election Commission to cancel their registrations. Such voters could alter election results and enable manipulation. The Commission must take this matter seriously.
Reporter: As a senior politician, what is your message to new entrants into politics?
Mirza Abbas: Anyone wishing to do politics should follow senior leaders. There is no need to follow those who thrive on disorder. Many who have recently become leaders have done so over the blood of others. We, by contrast, built ourselves by shedding our own blood on the streets.
Reporter: Your final words for your competitors?
Mirza Abbas: We are competitors, not enemies. Elections should be festive and peaceful. Above all, people must be able to vote freely.
Reporter: Would you like to comment on the referendum?
Mirza Abbas: The government is intimidating people and pressuring them to vote “Yes”. If that were the intention, they could simply have declared the “Yes” vote the winner outright. This is not the language of an election – it is dictatorship. An election means those who wish may vote “Yes”, and those who wish may vote “No”, according to their own judgement. People cannot be forced. This decision must be left entirely to the will of the people.
Courtesy: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
