“People won’t vote just by recalling past history anymore. They want to see whether the candidate is good or not. When there’s a choice between good and bad, people will vote for the good,” he says
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna. Photo: Collected
“>
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna. Photo: Collected
Past political records will no longer guarantee votes, as people now prefer to judge candidates based on their character and actions, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said today (1 November).
“People won’t vote just by recalling past history anymore. They want to see whether the candidate is good or not. When there’s a choice between good and bad, people will vote for the good,” he said while addressing a discussion organised by the party’s student wing Nagorik Chhatra Oikya at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.
During the event, the organisation also announced a nine-point call for establishing a welfare state.
Speaking about Islami Chhatra Shibir’s landslide victory in student union elections at Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities, Manna said, “If you behave well and work well, people will vote for you. Students are even voting for Shibir despite knowing their background because Shibir says they are not responsible for what happened in the past.”
“That’s why voters are choosing them,” he said, adding that Jamaat-e-Islami is now talking about Durga Puja, patriotic songs, and the Liberation War — all signs of political change.
Manna further said, “Generally, it seems the BNP will form the next government. But have they been able to stop crimes?”
“Their grassroots leaders are still involved in extortion and criminal activities,” he alleged.