Bangladesh votes on Thursday, Awami League vote bank equation different

POBNEWS24, Dhaka Feb 11, 2026 : Bangladesh votes at night. The national elections and the referendum will be held on the same day. But the voting equation is different. The Awami League, which was ousted from power in the face of a mass uprising on August 5, 2024, and is currently banned from political activities, is not able to participate in the upcoming thirteenth national elections. Although the party’s workers and supporters were not supposed to go to the polling stations as per the instructions of the high command, in reality this ‘huge vote bank’ has now become the biggest equation in the election.
According to analysts, if the voters of the Awami League genre finally go to the center, it could change the fate of many candidates.
As the Awami League is out of the elections, rival candidates are fighting behind the scenes to get the votes of their supporters and ‘innocent’ workers into their boxes. This undeclared competition is most visible especially at the district and village levels.
Although the central leaders of the Awami League have called for a boycott of the elections, the picture on the ground is somewhat different. To avoid ‘mob culture’, attacks and cases and to survive in the area, many workers and supporters are indicating to vote for a candidate of their choice. There are rumors that local Awami League leaders in many areas have secretly developed friendships with people of BNP or Jamaat candidates as of the time of writing this report. Although the voting will begin at nightfall.
Recently, at a road meeting in Thakurgaon-1 constituency, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, ‘Our Hasina Apa has gone to India. She went there, did well. But why did she put her workers and supporters in danger? We want to tell the general supporters that you should not be afraid, we are by your side. Only those who have done wrong will be punished. But those who are innocent, we will not let any harm come to them.’ Many see his statement as a tactic to reassure the general supporters of the Awami League.
The top leaders of the Awami League are not currently in the field in Dhaka-5 constituency. However, the workers have been holding secret processions and protests for a long time. Candidates from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islamic Movement are mainly active in this constituency. Regarding voting, a ward-level leader of this constituency said that most of the top leaders have left the country after the mass uprising. Although the lower-level leaders are active in some way, they are not seen. As a result, they are not getting any instructions on whom to vote for or not to go to the center. Again, there is a fear of arrest if they go to the center, and if arrested, there is no bail. There is also the fear of ‘mob’. Considering all this, they are not able to make decisions in that way. Sometimes some instructions come on Facebook and Telegram groups, but the grassroots leaders and workers are not able to trust even those instructions. However, many leaders and workers seeking hybrid opportunities have entered parties like BNP, Jamaat and NCP. This culture was also present in the Awami League.
Some said that they are being contacted by field leaders of potential winning candidates including local BNP and Jamaat. They are being assured that if they vote and win, they will be protected from lawsuits and attacks. Safe shelter will be arranged. Many people are believed to go to the polling station with such assurances.
In an election dialogue on December 23, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam claimed that BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are competing to attract Awami League votes. To get these votes, they are making various promises to Awami League workers. One of the signs of this is that many leaders and workers have been assured of exemption from lawsuits or withdrawal in exchange for votes.
In the northern district of Chapainawabganj-3 (Sadar) constituency, BNP and Jamaat leaders have started a real fight to attract the votes of Awami League supporters. In various meetings and gatherings, leaders of both parties have openly warned Awami League supporters, ‘Come with us without fear. All your responsibilities are ours.’ We will provide you with all-round security. We will look into the cases filed against you and take action to prevent police harassment.’
Several such statements made by Latifur Rahman, Naib-e-Amir of Chapainawabganj district Jamaat and former MP, have recently gone viral on social media. BNP candidate and former MP from the same constituency, Harunur Rashid, is not far behind in this regard. He is also directly holding meetings with Awami League leaders and activists. This is not only the case in Chapainawabganj-3 constituency, but also in most constituencies in the country.
BNP’s nominated candidate for Patuakhali-3 (Dashmina and Galachipa) constituency and former VP of DUCSU, Nurul Haque Nur, said, ‘If I have done enough to get votes, Awami League supporters will also vote for me. I am sure that I will get 100% votes from Awami League supporters.’
Regarding the issue of drawing votes from Awami League workers and supporters, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum told this correspondent, ‘It is not our job to break or build anyone’s vote bank. We will present our ideals and objectives to the general voters of the country and seek votes. It is not our concern to see which party the voters used to support before. Our expectation is that the voters will make their decision after looking at the manifesto and ideals of each party. Voting according to one’s choice on election day is the beauty of democracy, we believe that.’
In this regard, BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman told this correspondent, ‘Personally, I do not support it in any way. There are many strategies in the election arena, in which case, maybe this is happening somewhere or they are being taken somewhere. Both parties are doing this. However, there are some innocent workers who (at one time) registered with Awami League, maybe they are being taken into the party.