Feature

Thoughts of students of Chittagong about upcoming election

Tabassum Mokhduma

Star Campus recently spoke to some students, mostly first time voters in Chittagong, to find out what they thought about the election.

Farzana Akhter Badhon, a first year student of Department of Management, Government Commerce College, Chittagong, is yet to become a voter as she will enlist herself from Noakhali. She said, “It's very important to ensure free and fair election for the betterment of the country. Moreover, MPs should keep their words after election to develop their respective locality”.

Rayhan Ara of third year of Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University, (CU) hopes that the next government will take necessary steps to develop the agricultural sector of our country.

“I would like to see new parties in next election because the so-called main two parties failed to develop this country” said Susmita Karmakar, a student of third year, Department of Law, CU.

Humayan Kabir, who completed his Masters in Economics from Chittagong College believes, “The Caretaker Government must confirm level playing field for better election.”

Tasmia Sharmin, a third year student of Department of Mathematics, CU said, “I became voter for the first time this year. But I'm not very interested about elections as all the previous elections were not very fair. Moreover, the MPs were not very much committed towards society.”

According to Chandan Kanti Nath, a student of LL.M., CU thinks that MPs should regularly visit their constituency to know about the requirements of the people. He further said, “Political parties should not use the students in their political campaign. The steps present government taking for the development of the over all situation of our country must be continued in the future by the elected government to make our country a better democratic nation”.

Taslima Sultana of Department of Public Administration of CU said that she expects a government which will succeed in controlling prices of the essentials. She also added, “I will vote for the person who is honest and who will be well mannered”.

Piyash, a first year student of Department of Law, CU who became voter for the first time this year expects that new, honest people will come forward in the next election to save the country from leadership crisis.

Iqbal Hossain, a student of MS, Department of Microbiology, CU doesn't think that election can bring anything better for this country. “Though I myself am a voter but still I think that nothing will change in this country. In my constituency Potiya, the villagers voted for as minimum a bribe as 100 taka during the last election”.

Rezaul Haque, who studies in second year in Department of Marketing in CU, said, “Political people are so very corrupt. As a result, they somehow prevent the honest people from coming to politics”.

Muktasree Chakma, a third year student of Department of Law, CU said that previously only Manobendra Narayan Larma, Ex-MP of her constituency Rangamati spoke boldly for them in Parliament which is not enough.

Nigar, a student of MBA of Department of Management Studies, CU said, “I would like to vote for a person who will work for the locality and will stand by people during their needs”.

Fahima Nasrin, who is doing her MS in Statistics from CU, became very much irritated with our tradition of electing either AL or BNP to run the country. “People should elect somebody else as both these parties failed to run this country properly” she said.

But Nadia Noor, class mate of Fahima, thinks differently. She thinks whoever comes to the power, firstly must work to bring down the prices of essentials.

“I'll vote for the person who will ensure proper initiatives to solve this problem”.

Amrin, a fifth year student of Comilla Medical College, Comilla and also a first time voter from Chittagong said, “Our politician doesn't even come to their area once elected, let alone working for people. But I still hope that this time around things will change”. She moreover said that MP of her locality must come forward to solve student related problems.

Munira, a student of MS in Department of Statistics, CU on the other hand believes that EC should prohibit students from taking part in political work during election.

“EC should give equal importance to the voters of both town and village to protect their voting rights so that no one's right is violated” said Biswajit Das, a final year student studying B.com in Government Commerce College, Chittagong.

Tawfiq, who just completed his graduation from Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) said, “I would like to see a different government this time. But hope this change won't bring autocracy in the country”. He also added that whoever is elected, must regularly visit his area in order to meet the requirements of the people.

“Election commission must prevent the flowing of black moneys into election to ensure prevention of corruption in election” said Taukir Ahmed Chowdhury, a first year student of Department of Economics in Government City College, Chittagong.

Nusrat Jahan, who is studying in third year in Department of Public Administration in CU said that she wants a sound and fair election where there will be no corruption in election and the candidates will be educated enough to run the country properly.

Tahmima Tania, a student of MBA, Department of Finance and Banking, CU doesn't rely on the MPs. “I don't expect anything from them. Before election they are unbelievably good, and after election they fight for the championship in a race of corruption” she said.

Sharmin Akter, a third year student of Department of Statistics, Chittagong College expects that next election will be more peaceful than the previous one.

“I hope this time honest politicians will come forward to compete in polls as this government is keeping their eyes on the corrupts” said Masum, who is in third year in BBS in Government Commerce College, Chittagong.

Farzana Yasmin of Department of Statistics, CU, who is doing her MS said, “I'd like to see my MP working honestly for the betterment of the street children”. She moreover said that EC must restrict the corrupted people from taking part in election.

Sujan Dey, who is doing his MS in Department of Microbiology in CU believes that the voter list needs to be fair enough to ensure transparency in election. “I expect such a MP for my area who will speak for us in parliament” he said.

(Student of Chittagong University)