March Payments Drop Ahead of Election, Slum Residents Say Political Rallies Now Pay Less

As elections approach, residents of a riverside slum in Ramchandrapur area of Rajshahi city once again find themselves being called to join political rallies—an arrangement they describe as seasonal but familiar. For many women and unemployed residents of the area, attending marches offers a small but important source of extra income. However, they say the payment this time is noticeably lower than before.

According to local residents, participants in political rallies were paid Tk 100 per person during the previous election cycle. In the current election season, that amount has been reduced to Tk 50, and in some cases even less. A report published on Sunday noted that a ward-level leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been tasked with mobilising people from the area for rallies.

Residents said the organiser primarily approaches men and women who are unemployed or stay at home, offering them cash to attend marches. Several women from the slum said that although they are promised Tk 50 for a day’s participation, the amount is sometimes cut to Tk 40 when turnout is high. Many of them have been attending rallies regularly for the past seven consecutive days.

A 65-year-old resident of the area said that due to the lack of steady income, both he and his wife attend rallies together. While they are supposed to receive Tk 100 per day combined, the full amount is often not paid. “Sometimes they hold back one day’s payment and give it the next day,” he said, adding that earnings were higher during previous city corporation elections.

When asked about voting preferences, the elderly resident said he initially intended to vote for the BNP’s sheaf-of-paddy symbol but has recently faced pressure to support another electoral symbol.

The ward-level BNP leader involved in organising the rallies, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that the allocation for rally participation has been reduced this time. He said it was not possible to pay more than Tk 50 per person per day due to limited funds, adding that residents join the rallies mainly out of economic necessity.

Hiring people to attend political marches is not a new phenomenon in the area. Locals said that for years, residents of the slum have participated in rallies for various political parties whenever payment is offered, regardless of party affiliation.

Source: Prothom Alo