The women and the young voters, who make up a large share of constituents in both south and north parts of Dhaka, are set to play a key role in determining the next mayors of the country’s capital.
Women and young voters said when they cast their ballots on April 28, they would pick candidates who will ensure basic urban facilities or work to build a women-friendly and smarter Dhaka.
Analysts said women in Dhaka’s south are likely to play a vital role, as around 46% of the 1,870,364 voters in Dhaka South City Corporation are women.
Keeping these numbers in mind, most candidates in the south were trying to assign their women supporters to go door-to-door and canvass to the women voters.
Afroza Abbas, who is campaigning for her husband Mirza Abbas, said: “If our message reaches 46% of the voters [who are women], a win would be possible. We are giving priority to this large section [of voters].”
On the other hand, 33% of 2,349,313 voters in Dhaka North City Corporation are young voters who might make the key difference in the upcoming election, analysts said.
Former election commissioner Brig Gen (retired) Sakhawat Hussain said the youth vote is important for this city polls, with most candidates trying to appeal to this particular demographic.
Naima Sultana, a banker and a constituent of the DSCC, said: “I think the young candidates should be given a chance. But age will not be the only determinant. I would give my vote to someone who has already worked for our area.”
She, however, pointed out that candidates who are not from the ruling party might not achieve much if they are elected to the mayor’s office.
Asked what the women voters of the north want, garment worker Rokhsana said affordable housing would be an issue that would appeal to low-income women voters like her.
DNCC voter Rizwana Hossain said she favours Annisul Huq as the next mayor as he had both experience and enthusiasm to work for the city; being backed by the ruling party also strengthened his cause, she added.
Mirpur schoolteacher Soheli Parveen, meanwhile, wants a new face to be elected. Her preference was CPB-BSD-backed candidate Abdullah Al Kafee as “he has been campaigning for a women-friendly city since the start.”
Talking to students of different private universities at a tea stall, the Dhaka Tribune learnt that the favourite among the youth was Awami League-backed Annisul Haque, as he could make a “smart” Dhaka.
Zonayed Saki also had great traction among the young voters because of his promises of bringing change to the city.
