Young voters may become the ‘trump card’ in Dec 30 election

At least 21.5 million young voters have entered the voter list over the last decade and may become the deciding factor in the upcoming 11th national election.

The political parties are now trying to woo the young voters with promises in their election manifestos.

There were over 81 million on the voter list for the 2008 election. At least 38 out of the registered 39 parties had contested that election.

Only 12 political parties contested the 10th general election, which was boycotted by the BNP and its allies. Candidates in 153 seats had won the election uncontested, but voting took place in the remaining 147 seats.

All of the 39 registered political parties are contesting the 11th general election slated for Dec 30. Now young voters comprise a third of the total 104 million voters.

Those who became voters after the ninth general election are considered ‘young voters’ by election observer and analyst Abdul Alim.

“These young voters have an educated and progressive mentality. They’ll go to the polling centres after thinking deeply. You can be assured that these young voters will play a big deciding factor in the upcoming parliament election,” he said.

Those who entered the voter list after 2008 are aged between 18 and 28 years. The main political parties, including the Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party, are now courting them with promises.

THE AWAMI LEAGUE

The young and women voters will pay a major role for the Awami League to win the upcoming national election, believes the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

The Awami League has devoted various sections of its election manifesto to incorporate the young generation into the development of the country, said Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Razzak, who also coordinates the sub-committee on designing the manifesto.

“We’ll inform the people of the country how we’ll engage the young generation into societal development and the running the country,” he said.

JATIYA OIKYA FRONT

There will be no age limit in the government jobs apart from the jobs in the police force and the military, Oikya Front said in its election manifesto. Also, there will be no quota in government jobs aside for disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities, it added.

If elected, the Oikya Front will also form a commission to introduce unemployment allowance for educated and unemployed people over the age of 30.

The BNP will announce its election manifesto on Tuesday morning.

JATIYA PARTY

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has brought his party to the digital media to attract the young voters.

“The Jatiya Party has announced a fresh manifesto in line with the modern times and to cater to the new generation, focusing on the next half-century,” said Ershad’s special assistant ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar as he announced the party’s election manifesto.

COMMUNIST PARTY OF BANGLADESH

The CPB has announced its election manifesto titled ‘Vision Liberation War-71’ that includes at least 30 promises.

The left leaning party focused on alternative economic policies, creating employment, poverty alleviation, reducing economic disparity and ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption in their election manifesto.

EXPECTATIONS OF YOUNG VOTERS

“Many of our seniors are unemployed after finishing their studies. I don’t want to be stuck in the same situation. My foremost demand to those coming to the power is to increase employment. They can establish more industries in the country to do so,” said Tanjimul Islam, a student of the Management Department at Dhaka University.

The new government should adopt a ‘strong position’ against corruption in the country, said Arfatur Rahman Pappu, who works at a private company.

Jhuma Rani Das, who graduated from a government college under the National University urged the government to increase the age limit of job seekers to 35 years at the entry level.

“Those who will come to the power must realise that use of technology is increasing every day. Therefore, our education system should be reformed accordingly so that it creates a labour force skilled in technology,” said Shoibal Chandra Banik, a student at a private university.

“I have always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. But it is hard to survive as one; it requires dedication and diligence. I expect that the new government will introduce incentives to motivate young entrepreneurs. This will increase employment,” said Muhtasim Al Mamun from Mirpur.