Change in the political landscape is not only visible within parties but also reflected in the online activities of their members, with the BNP’s young activists now finding themselves facing new opponents.
Once focused primarily on countering the Awami League, the BNP’s youth are now engaged in fierce online battles with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the recently formed National Citizen Party (NCP).
These young BNP activists and supporters are actively countering the narratives of the Jamaat and the NCP on social media by presenting logical rebuttals, launching various campaigns to win public support for the BNP.
Many of them are not officially affiliated with the party but are still promoting the BNP’s ideology independently on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X and Telegram.
According to these activists, the Jamaat and the NCP are working to undermine the BNP on social media. They say multiple Jamaat-affiliated pages are portraying the BNP as a “negative” political force.
In response, these youths are creating infographics, political memes, short videos and clips of speeches highlighting the BNP’s legacy, its leadership continuity and its current political stance.
At the same time, they are exposing what they describe as the hypocrisy, backdoor politics and credibility crisis of the Jamaat and the NCP.
A Dhaka University leader of the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal (JCD), speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “I used to post daily against the Awami League. Now, I mostly post against Jamaat-Shibir and NCP. Our main task now is countering their disinformation because they are currently our primary adversaries.”
Online campaigning
He added: “Many unofficial teams are involved in this online campaign. Some are operating from abroad, while others are working at the district, university or police station level, even without formal ties to the party.”
A member of the BNP’s media cell stated: “We haven’t officially launched any dedicated online campaign unit, but we strongly encourage the spontaneous participation of our youth. The BNP is now fighting not only on the streets but also in the virtual world.”
He emphasized the importance of a fact-based online response to the false narratives propagated by the Jamaat-Shibir and NCP.
Several young activists reported receiving threats, abuse and targeted reporting from Jamaat-affiliated accounts.
Many have had their Facebook accounts temporarily or permanently disabled as a result. Despite these challenges, they remain undeterred, drawing strength from the adversity they face.
Female activists, in particular, have faced harassment and abuse online. Many have been subjected to vulgar comments, obscene messages and even threats of rape. One central female leader of the JCD recently attempted suicide after receiving such threats, leaving her psychologically devastated.
Nevertheless, female JCD leaders continue to show courage and remain active online. One notable figure is Mansura Alam, Joint General Secretary of the JCD, who frequently promotes the BNP’s message through various social media campaigns.
Her posts not only spark political discussions but also boost the morale of fellow activists.
Mansura Alam told Dhaka Tribune: “During Sheikh Hasina’s regime, we were subjected to online bullying. Now we are being bullied by those with whom we once stood shoulder to shoulder in the anti-fascist movement on the streets. This is completely unexpected for us. At first, we tried to tolerate their bullying, but it has only escalated over time.
"To defend ourselves, we are now responding with counter-arguments and presenting our reasoning. However, if the bullying continues, we will be left with no choice but to seek legal recourse.”
She further said: “They are using bot networks to spread misinformation against us, making it difficult for us to identify the perpetrators. We urge the government to take action in this regard. We have also lodged complaints with the Dhaka University administration and are calling on them to take appropriate steps as well.”
Habibur Rahman, a young lawyer at the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge Court who also advocates for the BNP online, told Dhaka Tribune: “In the digital age, all parties rely on online campaigning. Those with strong grassroots engagement use social media to complement their efforts. But those lacking such connections, like the Jamaat and the NCP, invest everything in online platforms, often resorting to disinformation and fake narratives.”
He added: “Most BNP supporters work voluntarily online. However, the party needs to form a skilled, dedicated digital team to handle this full-time. I hope the BNP will treat this matter with the importance it deserves.”
When asked about online campaigns against the BNP, Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said: “It’s natural for political parties to campaign against their opponents. Given that the BNP is the largest and most popular party in the country, other parties naturally target us. However, their campaigns mostly rely on rumors, lies, propaganda, personal attacks, obscenity, misogyny and character assassination.”
Regarding the Chhatra Dal’s strategy to counter such campaigns, he said: “While respecting freedom of expression, we’re moving forward with strategic plans to counter this propaganda. Many of our members are voluntarily running pro-BNP campaigns online, and I am deeply grateful to them. We plan to organize and coordinate this work more systematically.”
Although the BNP may be relatively quiet on the streets at the moment, political analysts believe the online battle being waged by its young activists could significantly shape the party’s future strength and popularity.
Saiful Islam Chowdhury, associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University and a political analyst, told Dhaka Tribune: “Digital campaigning has become crucial in politics globally, including in our country. Here, campaigns are mostly run on Facebook and YouTube. In recent years, we’ve seen both the Awami League and the BNP use these platforms against each other. As people increasingly rely on digital media, the importance of these platforms has grown.”
Asked how he views the role of BNP youth in resisting propaganda from the Jamaat, NCP and others, he said: “When you’re attacked, you defend, then you strike back. Social media allow parties to reach people quickly, which is why it’s become a preferred battleground. Even before the digital age, political smear campaigns were common here. The problem is, most of these campaigns use misinformation. Since the BNP is a major party, it’s only natural that others will try to undermine it. The BNP’s activists must respond digitally.”