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“I know you. Your symbol is Shapla Koli [water lily bud] -- my daughter told me about you,” said Shahnaz Begum, a 40-year-old homemaker.

Tasnid smiled, embraced her and thanked her.

Moments later, a seven-year-old boy began chanting slogans for the water lily bud symbol.

Tasnid moved on, distributing leaflets to villagers of all ages.

Jhilkutia is a traditional village of around 50 families, home to about 250 people, of whom 230 are registered voters. Located in politically important Chauhat union, the village is considered a key area in Dhamrai.

One of 76 female candidates contesting this year’s election, Tasnid is running on the NCP ticket, part of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 10-party alliance.

She is campaigning door to door across villages in the constituency.

Before starting her campaign in Jhilkutia, Tasnid said she wants to help build a new Bangladesh, with a focus on education, health, agriculture and technology, especially for women and youth.

She said winning votes in the village may be challenging, as most residents are from religious minority communities and remain cautious due to past experiences and recent events.

Her campaign, she added, is focused on women and young voters, which is why she is visiting every household and college.

A few steps from Shahnaz’s home, Tasnid entered another courtyard where several teenagers were making boroi bhorta (mashed jujube).

She sat with them, shared the food and spoke about reform, urging them to vote for the Shapla Koli symbol and support “yes” in the referendum.

Questions soon followed. Villagers asked whether real reforms were even possible and expressed frustration that candidates often disappear after elections.

Tasnid assured them she has a clear reform agenda and stressed the importance of voting for change.

Despite not growing up in Jhilkutia, Tasnid is familiar to many as a member of a well-known local family -- known to some as Aiyub Chairman’s grandniece and to others as Bulbul’s niece.

As the campaign continued, she chatted with children, hugged elders and shared meals.

Residents raised long-standing demands for tube wells, housing and business support.

A betel leaf trader grew emotional while recalling broken promises by past candidates. Tasnid listened quietly, acknowledging their struggles.

Narendra, a local resident, told The Daily Star, “Before elections, everyone makes promises. This time, I will vote based on action.”

First-time voter Ripon Mia, a mason and farmer, said he hopes for a new Bangladesh after the July uprising. “We need leaders who work, not just promise. Youth matters, but experience also matters,” he said.

After concluding the Jhilkutia campaign around 2:00pm, Tasnid headed to Kalampur Bazar, one of Dhamrai’s busiest cattle markets. There, she distributed leaflets from shop to shop.

At the weekly market beside Bhalum Ataur Rahman Khan High School and College, fuchka vendor Arifur said, “I want the old political scenario to change.”

Later Tasnid joined a road meeting in the area, where Jamaat’s Dhaka district Nayeb-e-Ameer Md Abdur Rauf and other local Jamaat and NCP leaders were present.

After the event, Nabila Tasnid, an engineer by profession, told The Daily Star, “Moving from engineering to politics is not easy, but I want to do something for my country.”

She also alleged a lack of coordination within the alliance, saying separate campaigns by some partners were confusing voters.

“Regardless of whom people vote for, I urge them to support reform and vote ‘yes’ in the referendum,” she said.

At the same time, slogans from supporters of BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol echoed from a nearby street, while “Shapla Koli” leaflets were being distributed nearby, briefly turning Dhamrai’s streets into a contest of competing campaigns.

Six candidates are contesting the Dhaka-20 seat, including BNP’s Md Tamij Uddin, considered the most influential candidate in Dhamrai upazila.

Others include Khelafat Majlis’s Md Ashraf Ali, Jatiya Party’s Ahsan Khan, Amar Bangladesh Party’s Helal Uddin Ahmed and Bangladesh Jasad’s Md Arzu Mia.

Dhaka-20 comprises 16 unions and one municipality, with 3,76,639 registered voters—1,88,802 women, 1,87,835 men and two hijra voters.