Last Thursday, this correspondent visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital, National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and the area around Bangladesh Medical University (formerly BSMMU) Shahbag.
MD Rabiul, who sells coconuts in a van near the wall of Bangladesh Medical University, said the area falls under Dhaka-8 constituency, where BNP candidate Mirza Abbas and 11-party alliance candidate Naseeruddin Patwari are contesting.
Asked whether campaigning with loudspeakers was taking place in the Medical Zone, Rabiul said that just some time ago (5:10 pm Thursday) vehicles with loudspeakers had campaigned for the Water-Lily-Bud election symbol, and cars with the paddy heap symbol were also regularly campaigning there using loudspeakers.
“Nobody cares about the patients who come here for treatment,” Rabiul said. Obaidullah Miya, another vendor nearby, echoed the same sentiment, saying, “Our ears are burning because of the noise.”