Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Dhaka-4 constituency Syed Joynul Abedin. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Feb 07, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami led 11-party alliance candidate for the Dhaka-4 constituency Syed Joynul Abedin vowed to ensure public security and rule of law in the area, alongside comprehensive reforms in health, education and livelihood sectors, saying residents are grappling with fear, service deprivation and economic hardship despite living in the capital.  

In an interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), he said Dhaka-4, despite being part of the capital, has turned into a neglected and insecure area where ordinary citizens particularly women, workers and small traders, face daily threats as far as their safety and livelihood are concerned.

Joynul said residents of the constituency are living under growing fear due to drug trafficking, extortion, juvenile gangs and organised crime.

“Dhaka-4 is a capital constituency in name only,” Joynul Abedin said, adding, “In reality, people here are deprived, ignored and forced to live with insecurity.”
 
The candidate said, “I have been living here since 1989 and have witnessed these problems very closely as a citizen. 

Describing the security situation, he said drug trading has reached alarming levels in the constituency, making it one of the most vulnerable areas within the capital.
“I believe Dhaka-4 has one of the highest levels of drug trading centre inside the capital,” he said, adding, “Along with this, juvenile gangs have expanded, and the distance between crime and everyday life has narrowed.”

According to him, discussions with local traders and community members reveal a growing pattern of snatching and intimidation, particularly after dusk.

“Businessmen told us that incidents of snatching money and valuables while returning home in the evening have increased,” he said, adding, “Women, too, are facing serious insecurity. People are living in fear.”

Joynul said extortion has become routine for businesses of all sizes, severely affecting livelihoods. 

“From small traders to large business owners, everyone is forced to pay regular extortion,” he said. “Without paying extortion, it becomes nearly impossible for them to run a business,” he added.

He also pointed to the presence of criminal groups involved in forcibly occupying government and privately owned properties, further undermining the rule of law.

Outlining his approach to restoring security, the candidate stressed that crime cannot be tackled by focusing only on grassroots offenders.

“The people who collect extortion or sell drugs at the street level have no real power,” he said, adding, “They operate under the protection of influential patrons.”

He said identifying and prosecuting these backers is key to dismantling criminal networks. “When asked why they collect extortion, they say, ‘a big brother sent us,’” he added. 
“If those ‘big brothers’ are identified and brought under the law, extortion, drugs and organised crime will decline,” he said.

Regarding juvenile gangs, he said many youths are being exploited by political and social power brokers. “These boys are not inherently bad,” he said. 

“They are being used. If the forces controlling them are brought to justice, the drug trade and gang violence will reduce significantly,” he observed.

Joynul Abedin reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami’s broader political philosophy is rooted in justice and opposition to corruption. 

“Our movement is about establishing justice and standing against wrongdoing,” he said, adding, “There must be zero tolerance to corruption. Without that, security and good governance are impossible.”

Turning to health services, Joynul highlighted the absence of a government hospital in Dhaka-4. “There is no government hospital here. Most people are low-income earners. They need free or low-cost treatment, but there is no such arrangement,” he said.

He said even private healthcare facilities with adequate capacity are largely absent in the constituency. 

“Some hospitals in other areas provide free or low-cost treatment at times. But Dhaka-4 does not even have that option,” he said.

Zainul Abedin also pointed to the lack of civic and educational infrastructure for children and youth saying “There is not a single playground in the nine wards of Dhaka-4. There are no community centres where social, cultural or youth activities can take place,” he said.
He warned that the absence of safe recreational and developmental spaces is contributing to youth vulnerability. 

“When children and teenagers grow up without playgrounds, community centres or positive engagement, they become exposed to drugs and crime,” he said.

On livelihoods, the candidate said, Dhaka-4 hosts large, small and medium industries, but the majority of workers earn modest wages. 

“Most workers earn between Tk 10,000 and Tk 20,000 a month. Around 70 percent of residents are low-income people,” he said.

He said extortion, insecurity and lack of public services are making it increasingly difficult for small traders and workers to survive.

“From small shop owners to larger businesses, everyone is forced to pay extortion,” he said adding “This directly affects livelihoods and employment.” 

On the election environment, the candidate said his campaign is strictly adhering to the electoral code of conduct. “We are making every effort to follow the code of conduct fully,” he said. 

“There are clear organisational instructions to respect the law. One cannot speak about rule of law while violating it personally.”

Commenting on referendum, he said, “Our first message during public outreach is that people must participate in the referendum and vote for ‘Yes’. It is in the national interest, the interest of the country and the future of Bangladesh.” 

He said his campaign has been actively organising rallies, road meetings and processions to raise awareness in favour of the referendum. 

“We are reminding people that the sacrifices made during the July movement must not go in vain. That is why we are consistently campaigning in favour of the referendum,” he said.

Regarding public response, Joynul Abedin said voter response to the 11-party alliance in Dhaka-4 has been strong, driven by public frustration over decades of crime, corruption and misgovernance.

“People say they have seen terrorism, extortion, land grabbing and drug abuse for the last 54 years. Now they want change,” he said, adding, “Many voters believe Jamaat-e-Islami can govern without corruption and uphold justice”.

“They trust that we can remain free from corruption and fulfill state responsibilities honestly,” he said. “Alhamdulillah, we are receiving that response,” he added.