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DU glory won’t work for Menon, Sohel

Voters to weigh their pledges to check crime, food prices

Wasim Bin Habib and Naimul Alam Nobin
Two former student leaders have locked horns for the prominent Dhaka-8 constituency with die experienced of die two having an upper hand for being well-known in the national politics.
Former student leader, Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance nominee and Workers’ Party President Rashed Khan Menon and BNP-led four-party alliance candidate and
former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel are trying to become an MP from this constituency for the first time.
Menon has the AL electoral symbol boat while Sohel is running with the BNP symbol sheaf of paddy. Ten other candidates arc also in die race but the key battle for the 2,24,650 votes in the constituency is expected to be between the two former student leaders.
Chairman of Bangladesh Kalyan Party, formed after the January 11, 2007 changeover, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim is also in the race with the wristwatch electoral symbol.
Dhaka-8 constituency is made up of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) ward-31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 53, 56 and 57 which puts the seat at the centre of the capital. The seat has Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka Medical College, Motijheel-D i 1 k u s h a, A r a m b a g h , Siddheswari, Segunbagicha, Minto Road and Gopibagh areas inside its perimeters.
Menon was elected lawmaker from Barisal in 1979 and 1991 parliamentary elections. He was the vice-president (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) in 1963-64. He carries an advantage as he is known to the voters for his contribution to national politics.
Menon was the president of East Pakistan Chhatra Union between 1964 and 1967. He also played an important role in the historic six-point and 11-point movements, 1969 mass upsurge, country's Liberation War and in the anti-autocratic government movement in 1990.
Menon was shot in front of the Workers' Party central office in Dhaka on August 17,1992. He was treated for his injuries at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka cantonment and at Kings College Hospital in London.
Sohel is conducting massive campaigns in the constituency to diminish Menon's advantage.
He participated in the eighth parliamentary polls in 2001 from his native Rangpur-3 constituency. He came out third securing 22,651 votes. Jatiya Party presidium member Golam Mohammad Quader won the seat with 1,30,559 votes.
Sohel was the general secretary and president of JCD in 1996 and 1998 and he was elected general secretary of Dhaka University Fazlul Haque Hall Students' Union in 1989.
Both candidates have pledged to solve problems of the area like crime, drugs and extortion. The have been campaigning heavily since restrictions qp precessions, ^nd, rallies were withdrawn.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jatiya Party and the 14-party are conducting campaigns for Menon. BNP leaders and activists, supporters of convicted former BNP lawmaker Mirza Abbas, leaders and activists of JCD, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir are working in Sohel’s campaign.
Members of the Dhaka University Teachers Association Blue Panel and White Panel
have also been seen in campaigns of Menon and Sohel respectively.
Ihlking to The Daily Star, many voters in the constituency said Menon is a veteran politician and known to more people than Sohel is and this could give him the upperhand. As a young and emerging leader Sohel could get the young voters' favour.
About his vote Abul Kalam, a resident of Topkhana Road, said, "I will vote for the party that would be able to cut the prices of essentials," adding, "Crime is one of the main problems in the area, the representative from the area should be able to solve this."
Moti Mia, a 65-year-old resident of Purana Paltan, said, "Yes two former student leaders are contesting in the seat but there is a huge difference between leaders of the 60s and the recent ones. The student leaders of the 60s were more dedicated and patriotic and the recent ones have allegations of criminal activities against them."
"No doubt there would be a tough battle between boat and sheaf of paddy but Menon to me has more chance of winning because he has contributed in the national politics and has been here in the area. Sohel is not from this area," he said.
Abdul Kuddus, a fresh voter, said, "I will vote for Sohel as he is young and an emerging leader but there will be a tough battle between Menon and him."