Dr. Manisha Chakraborty is contesting the 13th National Election from Barishal-5 (Sadar) as the candidate of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and the Joint Democratic Front, a coalition of left-wing parties. She is the only woman candidate in her constituency. Of the six Barishal-5 candidates, she stands alongside others from major parties.
A 41-year-old long-time left-wing activist, Manisha completed her MBBS at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and qualified in the 34th BCS health cadre, but chose not to join government service, instead dedicating herself to political organizing and social movements.
She gained grassroots recognition through her protests against the ban on battery-driven rickshaws and other working-class struggles in Barishal, and was arrested during a demonstration in April 2018. Her work during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing free medical care to the poor, earned her local support.
Manisha previously contested the 2018 Barishal City Corporation mayoral election, becoming one of the few female mayoral candidates in the city’s history. She has faced discrimination in media and public spaces as a woman politician.
Her campaign is built on grassroots fundraising, with supporters contributing through traditional “Matir Bank” (earthen piggy banks) and mobile donations, emphasizing transparency and distancing from black-money politics.
Manisha’s platform includes women-friendly employment, transforming Barishal into a more inclusive city, and pushing for policies addressing education, health, climate vulnerability, labor rights, and economic dignity. She has called the 2026 election a continuation of democratic struggle and a chance to challenge entrenched political inequality.
This profile is part of an ongoing documentation series on women contesting the 13th National Election.
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