The BNP appears to be in a strong position in Dhaka-19 (Savar–Ashulia) in the 13th parliamentary election, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) is relying largely on Jamaat-e-Islami’s vote bank to stay competitive.
The constituency has 747,070 voters — 379,907 men, 367,150 women and 13 third-gender voters — spread across 275 polling centres, 38 of which have been marked as vulnerable.
There are 275 polling centres in the constituency, of which 38 have been identified as vulnerable.
Although eight candidates are contesting the seat, BNP-nominated candidate and former MP Dewan Md Salauddin Babu is widely considered to be ahead. Jamaat-e-Islami withdrew its own candidate and extended support to NCP nominee Dilshana Parul, but the latter has struggled to gain momentum at the grassroots level.
Salauddin’s 100-day target
BNP candidate Dewan Md Salauddin Babu is campaigning with a 100-day priority action plan should he be elected. A key focus of his plan is to combat drugs, terrorism and extortion, which he has taken on as a personal challenge. His proposals to ease traffic congestion, including setting up checkpoints with police cooperation, have drawn public attention.
A two-time former MP, Salauddin said he is contesting the seat for the fifth time under the BNP’s Dhaner Shish (sheaf of paddy) symbol.
Salauddin has been holding courtyard meetings, street rallies and door-to-door campaigns, promising to maintain continuity in development while introducing new initiatives.
NCP’s Parul’s dependence on Jamaat
NCP candidate Dilshana Parul, a former student activist, entered the race after Jamaat withdrew its nominee. Despite organisational and financial backing from Jamaat, she has yet to generate significant public support as many Jamaat activists are hesitant, having long campaigned for the Scales symbol and now being asked to seek votes for a different symbol.
Other party candidates, including those from the Jatiya Party, NPP, LDP, GOP and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, are campaigning but are not seen as decisive factors.
With the Awami League absent, the contest has remained relatively low-key, although BNP and NCP candidates continue campaigning actively. Working-class voters are expected to play a decisive role, while uncertainty remains over voter turnout.
Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md Saiful Islam said additional law-enforcement personnel will be deployed at the 38 vulnerable polling centres, adding that CCTV cameras have been installed at all centres.
The constituency includes voters from Savar Municipality and the union parishads of Savar Sadar, Pathalia, Ashulia, Yearpur, Shimulia, Dhamsona and Birulia.
Savar upazila includes voters from three parliamentary constituencies — Dhaka-19, Dhaka-14 and Dhaka-2 — with a combined total of 919,807 voters.
