Ethnic voters to be a factor
Voters belonging to ethnic minority community can influence results at six constituencies of Rangpur and Rajshahi regions in the 11th Parliamentary Election today.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the population of indigenous community people in 16 districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur regions is around 21 lakh, of whom more than 14 lakh are voters.
Total number of voters in Rajshahi and Rangpur regions is 2.405 crore in 72 constituencies.
Six constituencies are highly populated by indigenous people.
They are Dinajpur-1 (Birganj and Kaharol) and Dinajpur-6 (Birampur, Hakimpur, Nawabganj and Ghoraghat) in Rangpur region and Rajshahi-1 (Godagari and Tanor), Naogaon-1 (Niamatpur, Sapahar and Porsha), Naogaon-2 (Patnitola and Dhamoirhat) and Naogaon-3 (Mohadevpur-Badalgachhi) in Rajshahi region.
Besides, there are members of the ethnic community in other districts, including Rangpur, Thakurgaon and Gaibandha in Rangpur region and Chapainwabganj in Rajshahi region.
In Dinajpur, the population of ethnic people is around 1.1 lakh, of whom 28 percent voters are in Dinajpur-1 (Birganj and Kaharol) constituency while 35 percent voters are in Dinajpur-6 (Birampur, Hakimpur, Nawabganj and Ghoraghat) constituency.
Indigenous people can be a factor here, said Shital Mardi, a leader of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad in Dinajpur.
The number of ethnic voters in Rajshahi-1 is around 43,000.
Total number of voters in Naogaon-1 is 4.2 lakh, of whom 39 percent are of ethnic minority community. Besides, there are around 40,000 voters from ethnic minority community in Naogaon-2 and Naogaon-3 constituencies.
Philimon Baske a leader of the ethnic community in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha, said people of this ethnic minority are mostly backward, oppressed and neglected.
Aspirant candidates visited them to seek votes during the campaign and pledged to take steps for development of the people of the neglected community, he said.
“We are not so satisfied with the pledges given by the candidates, we want to see visible development for us,” Philimon added.
He urged the voters of his community to elect the right candidate who would be more caring about them.
Rabindranath Soren, president of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, said people of their community were very active in casting their ballots during previous elections. “It's a vote bank for candidates,” he said.
He also urged the voters of his community to cast their votes in favour of those candidates who would give high priority to their demands.
This correspondent also talked with two incumbent lawmakers and AL nominated contenders of Dinajpur-1 and Dinajpur-6 constituencies to know their views and electoral pledges for the ethnic people in their respective areas.
Shibli Sadiq, incumbent lawmaker and AL contender for Dinajpur-6 constituency, said lifestyle of indigenous people has improved a lot in the last 10 years due to various initiatives taken by the government.
More steps will be taken if AL is voted to power again, he added.
Monaranjan Shill Gopal, incumbent lawmaker and AL contender for Dinajpur-1 constituency, said the backward community advanced much in various fields in the last 10 years. Besides, their access to healthcare, education and social security was also ensured.
“Power connection to every house of the community was also ensured”, he said.
They were more oppressed, neglected and backward during the BNP-led governments, he added.
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