Bangladesh will hold their most critical elections since 2024 on February 12. The contest is between two coalitions, one led by Tarique Rahman, who is leading the BNP and the other led by Shafiqur Rahman, who leads the 11-party coalition led by the Jamaat-e-Islami party.
This year, the voting equation has been reshaped after the dismantling of the Awami League, the party led by the former ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The party is banned from participating in the election since its government fell on August 5, 2024.
Since then, both BNP and the Jammat party leaders have been making efforts to reach out to voters of the Awami League, Prothamalo reported.
There are about 30 constituencies in Bangladesh that have a strong presence of Awami League supporters.
Representatives of the different districts reported that candidates were carrying out various activities to attract Awami league suppporter in Madaripur, Shariatpur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Thakurgaon, Jamalpur and Mymensingh.
Some of these efforts included contacting Awami League leaders in the constituencies, visiting graves and assuring protection for members from lawsuits.
Many of the leaders and activists of the Awami League government went into hiding after the August uprising. Some of the candidates also reassured those in hidin gthat they could return to their homes.
In Mardipur 1 constituency, BNP candidate Nadira Akhter visited the grave of former Awami League MP Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury. After the visist about 20 Awami League leaders publicly showed support for the BNP candidate.
In the last one and a half months, several Awami League leaders and activists have joined the BNP. In shariatpurm an Awami League stronghold, Yunus Ali Mollah, the religious affairs secretary of Sakhipur Thana Awami League and chairman of Uttar Tarabonia Union Parishad, joined the BNP along with various leaders, activists and supporters of Sakhipur.
Gopalganj, another constituency that has been ruled by the Awami League since 1991, saw candidates paying homage to the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In Bagerhat, BNP and Jamaat candidates said in meetings that no one will be harassed due to their political identities.
In the 11 constituencies of Mymensingh, BNP party leaders are trying to woo voters who previously supported the Awami League.
This year's election outcomes may be largely influenced by who the Awami League voters choose to support in such constituencies.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman recently said in an interview with Deutsche Welle, "BNP will form the government alone. Because someone has to be in the opposition. If there is to be a balanced state, if there is to be a balanced government, someone has to be in the opposition. How will the country run if everyone comes to the government?"
The Bangladesh election commission has said that measures have been taken to ensure free, fair and impartial elections. Law enforcement, personnel and administrative preparation are underway.
Economists, however, also say that voter turnout might be low this year due to other reasons, such as millions have not been enrolled due to internal migration, especially low-income workers, students and those displaced by climate change.