The curtain has fallen on 20 days of intense electioneering as Bangladesh heads into its 13th national parliamentary polls on Thursday, a pivotal moment of democratic transition marked by cautious optimism among voters.
Campaigning officially ends at 7:30am today, closing a frenetic stretch of rallies, street meetings and door-to-door canvassing by major political parties and independent candidates.
Since the campaign began on January 22, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), the National Citizen Party (NCP) and others crisscrossed the country to drum up support.
Leaders and candidates remained locked in a war of words while leaning heavily on social media to mobilise supporters and shape narratives.
For the country’s 12.76 crore voters, Thursday’s vote is widely seen as the most consequential in recent history, coming in the wake of the unprecedented student-led mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government 18 months ago.
With voting just two days away, the country was buzzing as the campaign trail hit the home stretch yesterday. From city streets to village corners, the final day of electioneering unfolded like a festival of politics. Jatiya Party (GM Quader-led) candidate for Gaibandha-1 Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary greeting a rickshaw puller while campaigning in the district.
Adding to the significance of the day, voters will also take part in a national referendum on the July National Charter, which outlines a set of crucial constitutional and institutional reforms.
During the campaign, the BNP pledged to establish an accountable and “just state” directly answerable to the people, seeking votes for its sheaf of paddy symbol. The party also promised electoral reforms, curbing corruption and ensuring discrimination-free socio-economic development.
Jamaat vowed to build a state based on insaaf (justice), envisioning a “new and prosperous Bangladesh” free from corruption, extortion and exploitation. NCP, born directly from the student-led uprising, promised to dismantle structural inequality, foreign dominance and systemic corruption.
Dhaka-9 candidate Tasnim Jara hugging a voter while campaigning in the capital’s Sipahibagh;
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman toured dozens of districts, addressing rallies attended by tens of thousands and making area-wise development pledges.
On the final day, both intensified their efforts in the capital. Travelling in a red-green bus, Tarique attended eight rallies in Dhaka, starting from his constituency, Dhaka-17, where he said no party other than BNP had a clear plan, concrete programmes or the experience to govern, and reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and law and order.
Shafiqur began his last day with a rally in Dhaka-13, joined a mass procession in his constituency, Dhaka-15, and later held another rally in Dhaka-1. At one gathering, he urged party members to resist any attempt to hijack the election “through the back door”.
Supporters of Dhaka-5 BNP candidate Nabi Ullah Nabi attending a rally in the capital’s Jatrabari;
NCP Convener Nahid Islam attended the Dhaka-13 rally alongside Shafiqur and went on to hold meetings and rallies at seven other locations in the city.
While the campaign period was largely peaceful, sporadic clashes between rival supporters were reported in several districts, along with allegations of intimidation and breaches of the electoral code of conduct. At least one person was killed and several hundred were injured during in clashes during the 20-day campaign.
Although formal campaigning ends this morning, candidates are expected to continue outreach through social media. No public meeting or procession will be allowed in any constituency after this morning, and the restrictions will remain in force until 48 hours after voting ends, according to the Election Commission.
A women’s procession held in support of Jamaat’s Chattogram-10 candidate Shamsuzzaman Helaly in the district’s Halishahar; Photo: Star
COUNTRYWIDE CAMPAIGN
Across the country, the final day saw similarly hectic scenes.
Bogura remained vibrant throughout the day, with a cycle rally held in support of Tarique, who is also contesting from Bogura-6.
In Chattogram, BNP Standing Committee member and Chattogram-11 candidate Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury urged voters at a press conference to remain vigilant against any election engineering.
In Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on voters to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and the July 2024 uprising.
In Barishal’s Mehendiganj upazila, IAB held its final rally at Freedom Fighters’ Park, where its Ameer and Pir of Charmonai Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim reiterated its commitment to upholding ideology and Islam over power.
Supporters of Dhaka-12 independent candidate Saiful Islam Nirob at a procession in the capital’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Photo: Star
Large processions were reported from Sylhet and Sunamganj, where BNP and Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir held separate events, causing traffic gridlock.
Sohel Chowdhury, former vice president of BNP’s Sylhet District Unit, died of cardiac arrest while attending a campaign for the party’s candidate in Sylhet-2.
In Mymensingh, mainly BNP and Jamaat candidates took to the streets with thousands of supporters, while voters expressed satisfaction over the absence of large-scale violence.
“It is a positive thing that no untoward incident took place here. We want such a peaceful situation to continue in the coming days,” said Abul Hasan, a voter from Char Anandipur village in Mymensingh Sadar.
Similar reports of campaigning came from Chattogram, Pabna, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Narayanganj and Munshiganj.]
[Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to the report.
