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Published : 23 Jan 2026, 03:06 AM
The final phase of campaigning for the general election have begun in earnest with a sharp exchange of accusations, as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) took centre stage in a contest marked more by rhetoric than restraint.
Candidates and activists fanned out across constituencies on Thursday, a day after election symbols were formally allocated, launching the last leg of the campaign with pledges, counter-claims and rival narratives aimed at winning over undecided voters.
BNP sought to unsettle its opponents through a barrage of allegations, prompting swift counter-attacks from Jamaat and the NCP, who accused the party of distortion and political opportunism.
Despite the verbal sparring, and a handful of isolated clashes reported in different areas, the Election Commission (EC) said the opening day of campaigning was largely marked by restraint and “a positive attitude” among political parties.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said there had been no signs so far of what he described as “intolerable behaviour”, apart from a brief scuffle involving BNP and Jamaat supporters in Mirpur on the eve of the campaign.
Referring to campaign activities in Dhaka, Sylhet and other regions, he said parties appeared to have agreed internally to avoid inflammatory language or confrontations.
“We are seeing a healthy culture in the campaign so far,” Masud said. “There is a collective understanding not to attack one another verbally or create disorder. Some minor incidents may occur, but we hope they will be avoided. If everyone cooperates, we can hold a fair and peaceful election.”
The commissioner said the EC expected all candidates and parties to adhere strictly to electoral laws and campaign rules.
Meanwhile, the government has declared a public holiday not only on polling day, Feb 12, but also on the preceding day, in a move aimed at easing logistics and ensuring voter participation.
The home ministry has also set up a law and order coordination cell ahead of the election and the accompanying referendum.
Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said unprecedented security arrangements would be in place at polling centres.
“For the first time, every polling station will have at least five armed law-enforcing personnel,” he said. “This will include a minimum of two armed police officers and three armed Ansar members.”
At sensitive polling centres, he added, the number would rise to six armed personnel, including three police officers.
“This leaves no scope for ballot snatching,” Jahangir said.
As campaigning gathers pace, the authorities insist that the early signs point to a competitive but controlled race, though the coming days are likely to test that optimism.
HOW FIRST DAY OF CAMPAIGNING UNFOLDED
The campaign will continue until the morning of Feb 10. Alongside the parliamentary polls, a referendum is scheduled for Feb 12.
In terms of candidates, the BNP leads with 288, followed by Islami Andolan Bangladesh with 253, Jamaat with 224, Jatiya Party with 192, Gono Odhikar Parishad with 90, and the NCP with 32 candidates in the fray.
To launch the election campaign, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman visited the Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal’s shrine in Sylhet on Wednesday.
On Thursday afternoon, he formally kicked off the campaign with a rally at the Alia Madrasa ground.
Earlier that morning, he addressed a discussion attended by non-political students from 19 colleges and universities in Sylhet.
The BNP has fielded candidates in five of the six constituencies in Sylhet, leaving the Sylhet-5 seat to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam as part of a strategic alliance.
After the Sylhet rally, the BNP chairman spoke at the Sherpur Ainpur playground in Moulvibazar and later at an election rally in Shayestaganj, Habiganj.
The party has candidates in all four seats of both Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
In the evening, after holding rallies in Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, and Narsingdi, Tarique returned to Narayanganj, concluding the first day’s activities with a final rally there.
During these rallies, he criticised Jamaat for seeking votes by promising "entry to heaven”, while also condemning their role in the atrocities of the 1971 Liberation War.
He also accused them of "vote-stealing conspiracies”.
At the Moulvibazar rally, he said: "We have seen the people's votes being plundered over the past 15 to 16 years. Now, another political party is engaged in a similar conspiracy.
“They are misleading the people. We have read in newspapers and seen on social media that they are making ballot papers disappear; they have taken control of ballots for themselves, meaning they have resumed the process of vote-rigging."
At the Habiganj rally, the BNP chief says only the BNP stands by the people when things get tough.
“What have we seen in the past? Whenever something happens, some people flee to a neighbouring country, don’t they?” he said.
“Just yesterday, we saw that one person had run away. Do you know where he went? He fled to ‘Pindi’ [Rawalpindi],” he added.
“I was talking about those conspiring, taking bKash numbers, taking NID numbers, misleading mothers and sisters with various lies — one of them fled to Pindi. Some go to Delhi, some go to Pindi. But the BNP has remained in this country, standing by the people of this country.”
On Wednesday, the day symbols were allocated, BNP candidate for Dhaka-15 Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton alleged that female activists in the Jamaat chief’s seat were going door-to-door to collect voters' NID and bKash numbers. Jamaat has denied these allegations.
Following these reports, the Election Commission (EC) issued a notice on Thursday warning that collecting NIDs and personal voter information under the guise of campaigning is a punishable offence.
On Thursday morning, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman began his campaign with public outreach in his Dhaka-15 constituency, followed by a formal inauguration rally in the afternoon.
Several alliance partners, including NCP Convenor Nahid Islam, addressed the gathering.
The Jamaat chief issued a warning against extortion -- hinting at the BNP -- and alleged that "taxes" were being collected under the guise of "family cards”.
Referring to the BNP's promise of providing the welfare cards if they form the government, he said: “We are not promising any such cards. Can Tk 2,000 solve a family’s problems?”
He added that even if such cards were issued, the funds would be divided unfairly.
“As my brother [NCP Convenor] Nahid Islam said, it will be split: ‘My share first, then yours; Tk 1,000 of Tk 2,000 goes to me first, then you manage the rest’,” he told supporters at his first election rally in Mirpur-10.
“Even then, it won't reach the unemployed; it will be handed to the government's cronies."
He also asserted that no one would be allowed to engage in extortion in the country.
Earlier, Nahid, the candidate for Dhaka-11, questioned the feasibility of these welfare cards.
“We are hearing about different cards -- family cards, farmer cards. We want these benefits to reach the people.
“But will they really reach them? To get a Tk 2,000 card, will a Tk 1,000 bribe be needed? If we cannot eliminate bribery and extortion, will these benefits ever reach the people?”
NCP began its campaign in Dhaka by visiting the shrines of the three leaders and the grave of Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Fayzul Karim launched his campaign from the Barisal Press Club, stating that people desire Sharia-based laws and that governance based on the Quran and Sunnah would ensure equality and social justice.
The party's chief, Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, is expected to tour the country, though he is not a candidate.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader officially began his campaign in Rangpur with visits to the shrine of Maulana Keramat Ali Jaunpuri, his parents’ graves in Munshipara, and the grave of the party’s founder, Hussein Muhammad Ershad. He urged the public to vote “No” in the referendum.
He is contesting the Rangpur-3 seat with the “Plough” symbol.
The Ganatantrik Jukta Front, an alliance of left-wing parties, began campaigning from the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
Speaking to journalists, former CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim said there would be two votes -- one for MPs and one for referendum -- which were supposed to be neutral.
He said there could be three positions: Yes, No, or abstention. He questioned how neutrality could be claimed if the government instructed people to vote for specific symbols, asking why so much blood had been shed if neutrality was not upheld.
Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki began campaigning by visiting Banchharampur in Brahmanbaria to offer prayers for the slain July activists and to visit his father’s grave.
As part of the simultaneous movement alliance, the BNP has left the seat to Ganosamhati Andolon.
SCATTERED TENSIONS, UNUSUAL CANVASSING
In Sirajganj-4 (Ullapara), tension erupted when the Jatiya Party candidate urged voters to vote “No” in the referendum from a stage shared by all candidates.
While there was temporary chaos, no major violence was reported, though police received complaints of Jamaat activists' vehicles being vandalised.
In Gopalganj’s Tungipara, independent candidate Habibur Rahman Habib, recently expelled from the BNP for defying party orders, began his campaign by visiting the grave of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In Brahmanbaria-2, independent candidate Rumeen Farhana lodged a complaint with the EC over the neutrality of the administration and police. Election Commissioner Masud assured her of fair treatment.
JAIL TERMS AND FINES
The EC’s law and order coordination cell is monitoring the 300 constituencies.
Since the schedule was announced, executive magistrates have fined 67 areas a total of Tk 454,900 for code of conduct violations.
There have been 59 cases filed for 77 breaches.
The EC Secretariat has received 873 reports from inquiry committees, leading to 125 actions for poster removal and 190 show-cause notices.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed emphasised that complaints should be directed to the “Electoral Inquiry and Adjudication Committees” at the local level.
He noted that there are 1,981 candidates from 51 parties and 249 independents, including 76 female candidates.
Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker warned that the EC maintains the authority to take strict measures, including the cancellation of candidacy, for serious violations of the code of conduct.
