Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Awami League candidate for Dhaka 9 constituency, believes the young generation is both present and future of Bangladesh, and they should be given the required space to exercise their talent and creativity.
“I disagree with the established theory that the young generation is only the future of the country. They are our present as well, and I must create enough space for them to show their abilities,” he said while speaking to the Dhaka Tribune recently.
Also the current Dhaka 9 MP, Saber said policymakers should engage the youths in the development process when making decisions regarding the country’s future.
He said: “Fifty percent of the total number of voters around the world is among the youth, and for us, the biggest question is how we will use our young generation’s talent and creativity to make Bangladesh stronger and more developed.”
Around 23.5 million new and young voters will exercise their franchise for the first time during the 11th general election on Sunday, and they will play a vital role in deciding the fate of the candidates.
“Their vote will also decide the country’s future,” said Saber, who was the youngest member in Sheikh Hasina’s 1996-2001 Cabinet.
He added that earning credibility as well as the trust and acceptance of the people are most important to him as a politician.
Saber said he has always had zero tolerance for narcotics, terrorism, land grabbing, and illegal practice of power, and this will not change.
The Awami League leader further said he has always been with the people. “In my last 10 years as a lawmaker, I tried to fulfill the promises I made to the people, and I will continue to do so.”
He added that he believes in equal opportunity for all candidates and does not like to play the blame game. “But my rival in Dhaka 9, BNP candidate Afroza Abbas, is doing that [playing the blame game] to gain the sympathy of voters, because she knows the people will choose me.”
“We are contesting the polls to serve the people. If someone is barred from reaching them, it is very unfortunate and I do not support it,” Saber said.
The ruling party leader also mentioned that Afroza did not file any complaint with the authorities concerned, even after she alleged that her campaigns were attacked by Awami League supporters.
He urged Afroza, the wife of senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas who is also contesting the polls from Dhaka 8, to file complaints with the returning officer and law enforcement agencies, so that they can conduct fair investigations.
Claiming he had welcomed Afroza after she was nominated, Saber said: “I also thanked BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front for choosing her as the Dhaka 9 candidate.
“I think women’s participation in politics should increase and Afroza is BNP’s best candidate. I also believe that she is better than even her husband.”
“I never claimed that my supporters did not carry out the attacks on Afroza Abbas or that her supporters plotted attacks on me. I always want fair investigations into such incidents and I believe only that can ensure a peaceful environment for the election.”
