As Bangladesh prepares for the 13th parliamentary election, the region of Rangamati is experiencing both excitement and frustration among its residents.
The government has announced a four-day public holiday to mark the election, starting from 11 February and continuing through the weekend, but local voters are expressing concerns over travel restrictions and the lack of enthusiasm in the race.
With the holidays approaching, many people were hoping to take advantage of the break for travel, only to find that vehicle movement has been suspended due to the election. The situation is particularly frustrating for those who had planned to visit tourist spots such as the scenic Sajek Valley, as local authorities have also suspended bookings at hotels and resorts in anticipation of the holidays.
One such disappointed voter is Jenny Chakma from Chattogram, who had planned to visit her family in Rangamati’s Hazari Bagh area. “I won’t be going to vote this year. I haven’t voted in past elections either,” she said.
“I wasn’t approached by any candidates, and I don’t have a preferred candidate. Also, the transport restrictions make it a hassle, so instead of voting, I’ll be going on a trip with my family.”
Meanwhile, Latina Chakma, a student from Chattogram, who was planning to visit Rangamati for six days, also expressed her dissatisfaction with the process. “There’s no candidate I support. My family has voted for both Awami League and BNP in the past, but none of the governments have brought real change. Voting seems pointless, so I plan to stay in Rangamati and relax with friends.”
Rajesh Chakma, another voter from Chattogram, said he was excited to vote for the first time during this election. “I’ll be going back to my village and taking advantage of the four-day holiday. Although I’m not familiar with all the candidates, I will decide once I’m there,” he explained.
While voters in Rangamati express their opinions, the political landscape of the constituency remains relatively calm. The two major regional parties—the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF)—have refrained from fielding candidates, leading many to believe that Advocate Dipen Dewan of BNP will be the likely winner.
The UPDF, however, has fully supported independent candidate Pahel Chakma, who has gained traction in the region. Some local circles even speculate that Pahel Chakma may emerge as the victor.
Voters are also discussing the possible support for Dewan from the PCJSS, although both the party and Dewan have denied such claims. If true, however, Dewan’s victory would be almost certain.
Tourism industry in limbo
Local tourism operators are feeling the pinch due to the ongoing election holidays. Amol Chakma, owner of Izor Restaurant and Cottages in Rangamati, mentioned, “Currently, we have four room bookings, but no new reservations have been made for the next few days due to the holiday.”
Sajek Valley, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, is seeing a complete halt in bookings. Sumedh Chakma, the owner of Ruilui Queen Cottage in Sajek Valley, said, “There are no tourists here at the moment. We’ve cancelled all the existing bookings, and we are not taking any new ones due to the election.”
Similarly, Alok Bikash Chakma, the unit manager of Rangamati Tourism Holiday Complex, noted, “Despite the four-day holiday, we have only about 10 per cent of our usual bookings during this period.”
As for the election itself, candidates from various parties, including the BNP’s Advocate Dipen Dewan, UPDF’s Pahel Chakma, and the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh’s Jui Chakma, are actively campaigning.
Jui Chakma, the sole female candidate in the race, is already declaring victory, citing her unique position as the only woman running for the seat.
Voter turnout and electoral statistics
The total number of voters in Rangamati for this election is 509,267, with 263,410 male voters and 245,855 female voters. There are also two transgender voters.
With the electoral process just days away, political leaders and voters alike await the outcome, despite the uncertainties surrounding the holiday travel restrictions and the lack of excitement in the race.
