Independent parliamentary candidate Dr Tasnim Jara has unveiled a wide-ranging election manifesto for Dhaka-9, pledging sweeping reforms in public services, healthcare, security, education, employment and political accountability under the campaign symbol Football.
Positioning herself as a grassroots candidate rather than a career politician,
Jara said residents of Dhaka-9 have long been neglected despite paying equal taxes and utility bills compared to more affluent areas such as Gulshan and Banani.
“Dhaka-9 has been treated as a revenue source, not a priority. That will change,” she said, framing her campaign as a fight for service equity and local rights.
Gas, roads and waterlogging: “No service, no bill”
A major highlight of her manifesto is a proposed “No Service, No Bill” policy targeting gas shortages.
Jara pledged to introduce legislation preventing utility providers from charging residents if the gas supply is unavailable. She also vowed to challenge alleged LPG price syndicates and push for subsidised fuel rates if pipeline gas cannot be ensured.
Her infrastructure promises include:
Drainage modernisation to prevent waterlogging
Canal and sewer cleaning before the monsoon season
Improved waste management through modern transfer stations
Mandatory deadlines and financial penalties for delayed road repairs
Healthcare overhaul and dengue prevention
Citing overcrowding at Mugda Medical College Hospital, Jara pledged to push for expanded staffing, upgraded equipment and stronger accountability.
As a physician, she said she would personally advocate for healthcare reform, including:
Upgrading community clinics into mini-hospitals
Establishing a year-round Dengue Task Force to eliminate mosquito breeding sites
Expanding maternal healthcare and women-friendly facilities
Crime, drugs and women’s safety
Jara warned that drug syndicates and poor street lighting have made neighbourhoods unsafe, especially for women.
Her security proposals include:
Installing CCTV cameras and high-power street lights on major roads
Launching anti-drug operations in coordination with authorities
Expanding rehabilitation programs for addicts
Ensuring safer public transport and reserved seats for women
Education reform and end to admission corruption
Criticising frequent curriculum changes and alleged admission corruption, she promised to eliminate political influence in school admissions.
Key education pledges include:
No MP quota or recommendation in admissions
Modern science labs, coding programs and libraries in schools
Emphasis on mental health, AI skills and extracurricular learning
Stronger teacher protection and parent-teacher monitoring bodies
Jobs, entrepreneurship and support for working mothers
To address youth unemployment, Jara proposed launching a “Start-Up Dhaka-9 Fund” to provide seed capital for young entrepreneurs and easier bank loans.
She also pledged:
Community daycare centres to support working mothers
Fair wage advocacy for informal and domestic workers
E-commerce training and digital market access for local businesses
Accountability pledge: “Not a guest candidate”
Breaking from traditional political culture, Jara vowed to maintain a permanent constituency office, introduce a public digital complaint dashboard, and operate without political protocol barriers.
“I am not a guest candidate. I am from this neighbourhood, and I will stay accountable to it,” she said.
Campaign message
In a personal appeal, Jara described herself as a reform-minded professional who entered politics after recent political shifts, presenting her manifesto as a binding commitment rather than symbolic promises.
She urged voters to support her Football symbol, promising to advocate for fair utilities, safer communities and better opportunities for Dhaka-9 residents.