National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-11 Nahid Islam on Sunday pledged sweeping land reforms and improved civic services for the constituency, saying years of mismanagement and illegal occupation had stalled development.
Speaking at an election rally at the DIT Project playground in Dhaka’s Merul Badda, Nahid said restoring lawful ownership of land and public spaces would be a priority if elected, describing it as essential to ensuring planned urban growth and social justice.
The rally, organised in support of his candidacy in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman as the chief guest and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque as the special guest.
Nahid said large tracts of private land, government khas land and water bodies in Dhaka-11 had been illegally occupied over the past decades, depriving residents of housing, infrastructure and basic services.
He noted that political changes in recent years had not fully dismantled entrenched systems of extortion and illegal occupation.
Calling the upcoming 12 February election a chance for change, Nahid said voters would have the opportunity to choose candidates committed to accountability, lawful governance and inclusive development.
Describing himself as a native of the area, Nahid said he was born in Beraid and raised in Badda-Rampura, and was therefore closely familiar with the long-standing neglect faced by residents of Badda-Bhatara despite their proximity to the capital.
He recalled the area’s role in both the 1971 Liberation War and the July Mass Uprising, noting that Badda and its surrounding localities had repeatedly stood at the forefront of national movements and sacrifices.
Highlighting development challenges, Nahid said Dhaka-11, with a population of around 1.5 million and nearly 4,50,000 voters, remains critically underserved.
He pointed to shortages of playgrounds, schools, healthcare facilities and employment opportunities, saying the absence of a government hospital and government high school has forced residents to rely heavily on private services.
He said a large majority of residents depend on the informal economy, while educated unemployment remains a concern, underscoring the need for targeted economic and skills-based programmes.
Nahid pledged that, if elected, he would work to recover illegally occupied land, ensure compensation where recovery is not possible, reduce economic disparities and improve access to public services.
He also called on voters to unite behind candidates of the 11-party alliance, describing it as a coalition capable of delivering accountable governance.
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