What Dr Tasnim Jara promises in her election manifesto

Independent candidate Dr Tasnim Jara has announced her election manifesto for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, contesting from the Dhaka-9 constituency.

She unveiled the manifesto through a Facebook post on Saturday, January 24. Contesting with the ‘Football’ symbol, the physician has prioritised key civic issues in her manifesto, including gas shortages, waterlogging, healthcare, security, education, employment and accountability of members of parliament.

In the manifesto, Dr Tasnim Jara placed particular emphasis on gas supply, roads and drainage. She said residents pay gas bills every month but often receive no supply. “When we light the stove, only air comes out. This is a form of deception,” she said.

If elected, she pledged to propose legislation introducing a ‘no service, no bill’ policy, demanding that Titas Gas waive monthly bills if it fails to provide gas. She also promised modernisation of the drainage system and ensuring contractor accountability in road construction and repairs.

As a medical professional, Dr Tasnim Jara outlined specific plans for the health sector. She said the excessive and inhumane pressure on Mugda Medical College Hospital must be reduced by recruiting adequate manpower and ensuring modern equipment. She also proposed upgrading neighbourhood clinics into ‘mini hospitals’ and forming a permanent mosquito control squad to operate year-round.

In education, she pledged there would be no ‘MP quota’ or admission trade. She said every school should function as a laboratory where students gain skills in coding, artificial intelligence and modern technology.

On security, she promised to bring the entire area under CCTV coverage and declared zero tolerance against drug dealers.

For employment and social support, Dr Tasnim Jara pledged to create a ‘Start-up Dhaka-9’ fund to provide seed capital for young entrepreneurs and to establish government-funded community day-care centres in every ward to support working mothers.

Addressing accountability, she said she would not be an “absentee MP”. If elected, she promised to open a permanent constituency office within one month, introduce a digital dashboard for resolving complaints and maintain direct communication with citizens without protocol barriers.

Concluding her manifesto, Dr Tasnim Jara said the document is not a collection of empty promises but a binding contract with the people of her constituency.