SADI MUHAMMAD ALOK
and
SHARIF M SHAFIQUE
In the afternoon, a group of tired workers and locals were sipping tea at a roadside stall in front of an iron factory in the Jalalabad area of Muradpur under Kadamtali in the capital.
Nearby at the entry point of the Mawa Expressway in Jurain, Dhaka-4 candidate Mizanur Rahman -- contesting independently with the “Football” symbol -- was campaigning door to door.
Before he could introduce himself, people at the tea stall burst into excitement. “Mizan Bhai, we know you! We want honest people like you to build a new Bangladesh,” they shouted.
Surprised, Mizanur asked how they recognised him.
Locals recalled his long record of activism, particularly his widely known protest against then-Wasa managing director Taqsem A Khan, when he attempted to force-feed him contaminated Wasa water.
Mizanur then asked the crowd a pointed question -- “Suppose you vote for me because you think I am honest. I will be in power for five years. What if I turn dishonest after being elected? What if I fail to keep my promises? What will you do then?”
The crowd hesitated. Mizanur answered himself: “Then you must stand against me. That is your responsibility. You must do it to claim your rights.”
SEE PAGE 9 COL 3