Election fever grips DU campus
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Election fever gripped the Dhaka University (DU) campus even at a time when the presence of students was few as the university was closed on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha and winter vacations, reports BSS.
DU falls under Dhaka-8 parliamentary constituency where about 5,000 voters including teachers, students, employees and other dwellers adjacent to the campus were involved in polls activities.
Two former student leaders have been contesting from prestigious Dhaka-8 parliamentary seat, who were well-known in national politics.
Former student leaders, Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance candidate and Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and BNP-led four-party alliance candidate and former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel are vying to become a lawmaker from this constituency.
Menon is contesting with 'boat' as his election symbol while Sohel is running with 'sheaf of paddy' as his symbol.
Both the candidates have visited the campus several times and carried out election campaign to attract the support of the voters on the campus.
Both candidates have pledged to solve problems like crime, drug trading and extortion from the constituency including Dhaka University campus.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jatiya Party and the 14-party are conducting campaigns for Menon while BNP leaders and activists, supporters of former BNP lawmaker Mirza Abbas, leaders and activists of JCD, Jamaat-e- Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir are working for Sohel.
Members of blue and white panels of Dhaka University Teachers Association have also been seen in campaigns respectively for Menon and Sohel.
Many voters in the constituency said Menon is a veteran politician and known to more people and this could give him some advantage in the election.
Kamal Ahmed, a DU fourth class employee said, "I will vote for the party that would be able to cut prices of essentials. Crime is one of the main problems in the area, the representative from the area should also contribute to resolve this problem."
"The country needs competent leaders who will be honest and able to give priority to the interest of the country including eliminating corruption and terrorism," Shamim Ahmed, a final year student of Political Science Department said.
Sabrina Sultana of Economics Department said that she wanted patriotic lawmakers who would be capable of taking necessary steps to make the country economically self-reliant.
DU falls under Dhaka-8 parliamentary constituency where about 5,000 voters including teachers, students, employees and other dwellers adjacent to the campus were involved in polls activities.
Two former student leaders have been contesting from prestigious Dhaka-8 parliamentary seat, who were well-known in national politics.
Former student leaders, Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance candidate and Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and BNP-led four-party alliance candidate and former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel are vying to become a lawmaker from this constituency.
Menon is contesting with 'boat' as his election symbol while Sohel is running with 'sheaf of paddy' as his symbol.
Both the candidates have visited the campus several times and carried out election campaign to attract the support of the voters on the campus.
Both candidates have pledged to solve problems like crime, drug trading and extortion from the constituency including Dhaka University campus.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jatiya Party and the 14-party are conducting campaigns for Menon while BNP leaders and activists, supporters of former BNP lawmaker Mirza Abbas, leaders and activists of JCD, Jamaat-e- Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir are working for Sohel.
Members of blue and white panels of Dhaka University Teachers Association have also been seen in campaigns respectively for Menon and Sohel.
Many voters in the constituency said Menon is a veteran politician and known to more people and this could give him some advantage in the election.
Kamal Ahmed, a DU fourth class employee said, "I will vote for the party that would be able to cut prices of essentials. Crime is one of the main problems in the area, the representative from the area should also contribute to resolve this problem."
"The country needs competent leaders who will be honest and able to give priority to the interest of the country including eliminating corruption and terrorism," Shamim Ahmed, a final year student of Political Science Department said.
Sabrina Sultana of Economics Department said that she wanted patriotic lawmakers who would be capable of taking necessary steps to make the country economically self-reliant.