Photo : BSS

JASHORE, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS) – Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) candidate for Jashore-3 (Sadar) constituency Rashed Khan has pledged to take sustainable initiatives to create employment opportunities for local unemployed youth, if elected in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad polls slated for February 12.

In an exclusive interview with BSS, he said that Jashore-3 constituency has around 232,000 young voters aged between 18 and 35. A significant number of whom are educated but unemployed.

“I will work to create sustainable employment for them,” he said, adding that the Jashore Software Technology Park, which was initially expected to generate around 10,000 jobs, currently employs only 800 to 1,100 people.

Khan said initiatives would be taken to attract local and foreign high-tech companies to the area and to encourage entrepreneurship by providing easy-term loans.

He also emphasized the need for government support for youths seeking overseas employment.

The CPB candidate further pledged to work for increased government allocation in the education and healthcare sectors, creation of employment opportunities for women, and ensuring women’s empowerment.

He also vowed to take steps to restore five important rivers in Jashore that are currently suffering from encroachment and pollution.

“I will ensure that people receive services from government offices without the need for political references,” he added.

Regarding election code of conduct, Khan said his party leaders and workers are strictly following the election code of conduct.

“We are using microphones within the rules, avoiding plastic in campaigns, and ensuring that no public suffering is caused,” he said.

Expressing his expectations for the upcoming election, he said that a level playing field could only be ensured if the use of black money and muscle power is stopped.

He also called for neutrality from the administration to ensure a free and fair election, reflecting the aspirations of the July movement for democratic change.

Khan, 25, was a convener of the Jashore Anti-discrimination Student Movement during the July Uprising and is currently the president of the Jashore District unit of the Chhatra Union.

He has completed his honours and master’s degrees in chemistry from Jashore University of Science and Technology and is a researcher and painter by profession.

He is contesting the Jessore-3 (Sadar Upazila) constituency with his party CPB’s electoral symbol “Kaste (Sickle) on behalf of Ganotantrik Jukto Front alliance. 

A total of six candidates are contesting in Jessore-3 constituency in the polls.

The other candidates are- Anindya Islam Amit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Muhammad Shoaib Hossain of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Md. Khabir Gazi of Jatiya Party (JP), Md. Nizamuddin Amit of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party and Md. Abdul Quader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

The constituency has 613,460 voters, including 307,549 male voters, 305,901 female voters and 10 third-gender voters. There are 190 polling stations across 14 unions and one municipality, with 6,824 voters registered for postal ballots.