Zaheerul Islam travels around selling fruits from his van. Amena Begum works as a construction laborer, Nurbanu at a local hotel, and Sadananda Barman is a farmer. They all share a similar view: if a candidate is honest, capable, and genuinely cares for the community, that’s who deserves their vote. For them, a good representative is someone who stands by people in both good and bad times and works for local development.

Last Sunday, voters from various professions across Thakurgaon’s municipal town, Sadar, Baliadangi, and Ranisankail upazilas shared these thoughts. With elections approaching, these expectations and demands were clear.

Voting for the national parliament is scheduled for February 12. In Thakurgaon’s three constituencies, 20 candidates are competing. Among them, seven have university degrees, one holds an MS in medicine, five have bachelor’s degrees, five have higher secondary education, and one each has secondary or eighth-grade qualifications. Professionally, five are primarily engaged in agriculture, two combine farming with business, three are full-time businesspeople, two are doctors, and two are teachers. Others have mixed occupations, such as farming with teaching, contracting, or consultancy. One candidate is a homemaker-businessperson, and one is a student.

Election campaigns are now at their peak, with candidates visiting voters to share development plans and promises. From morning till night, they hold public meetings, courtyard gatherings, and street rallies.

Zaheerul Islam, the van-based fruit seller from Boro Palashbari village, was interviewed around 11:30 a.m. at a crossroads in Baliadangi. He said, “We haven’t always been able to vote as we wished. This time we will. Even if an MP only serves a short term, we’ll vote for a good person.”

Van driver Rashidul Islam, a voter for 12 years, missed two of the last three elections and discovered once that his vote had already been cast. He said, “This time it will be a good vote. If your candidate is honest and free from corruption, they will earn my vote.”

Nurbanu (44), who works at a hotel in the Dangi area, explained that voters often gather at her workplace to talk, and now the only topic is elections. “We’ll vote for our own,” she said. Van driver Abul Hossain from Lahiri village added, “Whoever stands by us in times of trouble, that’s who we’ll vote for.”

Abu Taher (69) from Nekmord in Ranisankail noted, “Candidates promise all sorts of development during elections, but after voting, they vanish. We want a free, fair, and smooth election so everyone can exercise their rights and choose their preferred candidate.”

Sadananda Barman (56), a farmer-laborer harvesting potatoes in Dholarhat, Sadar, said, “There’s a lot of debate about who to vote for. We’ll vote for someone good, even if it feels risky.” Teacher Ranjit Roy (57) from the same village added, “We’ll choose someone who will stand by us in tough times.”

College student Nasima Akter (20), a first-time voter from Bholajan, Sadar, said, “I’m excited to vote in an important election for the first time. I’ll vote for someone who works for the people, not themselves.”

Construction workers, including many women, working on road improvements in Thakurgaon municipal town also shared their views. Amena Begum said, “We work hard for our living. We don’t ask for much. Whoever treats us like family after the election, we’ll vote for them.”

Thakurgaon District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Farzana emphasized that voters will be able to exercise their rights freely. Maximum security measures have been put in place to ensure a free, fair, and smooth election, with no advantage given to any candidate.