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“There may not be any benefit for us, but voting is taking place. So I came to vote.”
These were the words of Amina Begum, a woman in her sixties and a resident of Korail slum, after casting her ballot in the ongoing general election and referendum on Thursday, bdnews24.com reports.
Having lived with uncertainty in the slum for four decades, she voted alongside her family, clinging to a faint hope for peace and relief from the constant fear of fires.
Amina cast her vote at BTCL Adarsha Girls’ High School.
She said she has lived in Korail for 40 years and voted three times during that period. She described this year’s voting environment as “good”.
After leaving the polling station, she said, “There are 10 votes in my family — we cast them all. Let’s see if we get some peace this time.”
Speaking about years of deprivation, she said, “When they come asking for votes, everyone promises buildings and says each of us will get a house. Even if they give us nothing new, just let us stay as we are and don’t set fires. We want to live without the fear of fire.”
Asked about the referendum, Amina said: “I did not understand it. They said if we vote on this, things will improve and we will get peace. So I voted.”
Mosammat Bokul once lived in Korail and now resides in Mirpur. Leaning on crutches, she arrived at the Banani Model School polling centre.
Despite her physical disability, Bokul was visibly joyful about being able to vote. “I am disabled. I spent Tk 300 on a CNG ride to come and vote. I did not vote for many years. This time I could, so I came. I spent my own money and will return the same way. As a citizen, this is my duty,” she said.
However, she added that she had no expectations. “There will be no change in our fate. I don’t even hope for it.”
Several transgender voters faced inconvenience when they arrived at Banani Model School and found there was no separate booth or queue for them.
One transgender voter from Dhaka-17 said, “We are 14 or 15 voters. After coming here, we learned there is no voting room for us. They are saying we cannot vote here. We are looking around — maybe we will find a chance to vote somewhere else.”
Aklima, another Korail resident, became emotional after being able to vote for the first time in 17 years. She came to the centre with her daughter.
“For 17 years I could not vote. Every time I went to a centre, I was told my ballot had already been cast. This time I was able to cast my own vote peacefully. Let’s see if the government stands by the poor.”
She added, “We do not want much — just to live in peace. We want access to basic services like water and gas.”
Munni stood in a long queue with her two children — a 5-month-old and a 2-year-old — in her arms. Speaking about the hardship of waiting with infants, she said: “I have been standing for a long time with a baby. There is no one at home to leave them with. It was difficult, but I came to vote. We live in Karail; maybe this time our slum will see some development.”
About the referendum, Munni said: “There were ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ options. It is for the country’s development. I voted on that too.”
Long queues were seen since morning at several centres in the Banani Thana area, including BTCL Adarsha Girls’ High School, T&T Girls’ High School, T&T Boys’ High School, Banani Model School, and Banani Bidyaniketan School and College.
Rickshaw-puller Abdul Malek, who came to vote at T&T Boys’ High School, said: “We vote, but our problems remain the same. We hope there will be some change this time.”