Discussions are going on across the country about the upcoming 12th Jatiyo Sangsad elections. The Election Commission has started preparations. The election management body has already started dialogue with its stakeholders. The government party is preparing for their elections. However, there are various complaints in the opposition party BNP regarding fair elections. The party claims that fair elections will never be possible under the present government. For this, a neutral government should be formed and voted. Due to the opposing positions of the two parties, there is apprehension about the election among the people. Many people are expressing doubts about whether the country will face conflict again around the elections.
What do young people think about such a situation?- The number of voters in the country is more than 10 crores. A significant number of these are young voters. Many will get to vote for the first time. Even though the discussion about the election has started in the country, there is not much enthusiasm among the youth. They are especially worried about the election. BNP is also suffering from ambivalence about going to vote in an uncontested election.
Abir Hossain is a fourth year student of Tejgaon College. He became a voter in 2017. A year after that, he could not even go to the center to vote in the 2018 11th JS elections. He has to return home without voting.
Imran Hossain of Noakhali district is preparing for government job in Dhaka after graduation. He lives in a mess in Farmgate area. He told Barta24.com that I became a voter in 2016. At that time I was studying Honors in Noakhali Government College. The first opportunity to vote was in the 2018 JS elections. At that time, I was seriously injured in the clash between Awami League and BNP in our area. Since then, he did not go to the center to vote in any election out of fear.
Zahirul Islam is a student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of Asia Pacific Private University in Farmgate area. When asked about the election, he said, I became a voter last year. A kind of excitement about the upcoming elections is working. However, if the law and order situation is good and if the parents give permission, there is a possibility to go to the polling station.
Barta24.com correspondent spoke to several young voters like students Abir Hossain, Imran Hossain and Zahirul Islam. They all have the same opinion. No one seemed to be enthusiastic about voting. Everyone says that they could not vote despite going to the center several times. Due to the insecurity at the polling station due to political unrest, many families object to going to the polling station.
Election experts and chairman of the JANIPOP talked about the fear of young voters and vote aversion with Professor Nazmul Hasan Kulimullah. He told Barta24.com that if the election situation is like that of 2014 and 2018, then in the next election, common people will think it is better to stay at home.
He also said that in the next election, the general people will be more interested in voting. The matter will be clear after the announcement of the schedule.
In this regard, Election Commissioner (EC) Rasheda Sultana said that it is a privilege to be a voter of a country. We know that many countries have had the opportunity to vote much later. We are lucky we got the right to vote at 18. Why will young people be disinterested in voting? Voting must be done when the state provides the right to vote.
She also said, young voters should notice our actions. Especially let us look at the elections we have done after taking office. Then they will understand how transparently we conducted the election. So far as I have voted anywhere there has been any violence? Then tell them to come to the center and vote. It is their fundamental right.
Parents' intention to send their children to the polling station He said that the parents must send their children to the polling station. We are working tirelessly to maintain the law and order situation. We hope that all young voters, including unbelievers, will turn out to vote in the next election.
It is to be noted that the total number of voters in the 11th JS election is 10 crores, 41 lakhs 90 thousand 480 people. Out of which 5 lakh 25 lakh 47 thousand 329 male voters while 5 crore 16 lakh 43 thousand 151 were women voters.
According to the latest voter update of 2022, the total number of voters in the country is 11 crore 91 lakh 51 thousand 440 people.Of them 6 crore 4 lakh 45 thousand 724 male voters. And women voters are 5 crore 87 lakh 4 thousand 879 people. Besides, there are 837 third gender voters.