Nearly 30% of young voters remain undecided about their choice in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election, while 20% intend to vote for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a new survey has revealed.
The survey, titled "Youth Matters Survey 2025," was conducted by the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC) and unveiled at a press conference at the organisation’s Mohakhali office on Wednesday.
According to the survey, 17% of youth respondents said they would vote for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, 9.5% for the Bangladesh Awami League, and 3.6% for the National Citizen Party (NCP). Around 18% of respondents did not disclose their preferences.
The findings were presented by BYLC Executive Director Tahsinah Ahmed, along with Bdjobs CEO AKM Fahim Mashroor and media personality Abdun Noor Tushar.
BYLC conducted the survey through in-person interviews with 2,545 individuals, including 2,203 registered voters aged 18–35, between October 10 and 21. The study aimed to capture the perspectives, political inclinations, and aspirations of youth in contemporary Bangladesh.
Of the respondents, 97% confirmed they would exercise their voting rights in the upcoming election. Around half of the young voters expressed trust in the transparency and accountability of the election process under the interim government.
When asked about national priorities for the next five years, nearly 67% identified corruption prevention as the most urgent issue, followed by unemployment, law and order, drug control, and women’s empowerment.
Alarmingly, 76% believe girls and women do not feel safe in today’s Bangladesh, highlighting persistent gender-based insecurity that requires immediate policy attention.
The survey also revealed that 18.3% of youth intend to permanently settle abroad, citing economic challenges, political uncertainty, limited job opportunities, personal security, and social conditions as their primary reasons.
Speaking at the press briefing, Fahim Mashroor noted a growing entrepreneurial spirit among young Bangladeshis, with around 40% aspiring to start their own businesses due to a lack of formal job opportunities.
“Many turn to entrepreneurship out of necessity, as educational institutions often fail to provide the skills and preparation required,” he said.
Reflecting on the role of youth in shaping the nation’s future, Abdun Noor Tushar observed that young people in Bangladesh hold diverse thoughts and aspirations, focusing on education, employment, and politics, but often facing frustration over systemic challenges.
“Yet, despite these hurdles, 61.7% of youth remain hopeful and positive about the country’s future, according to BYLC’s survey,” he added.
Tahsinah Ahmed emphasised the importance of youth engagement in nation-building. “Since its inception, BYLC has been working with young people, and we believe their participation and opinions are vital for societal development,” she said.
“Listening to youth, involving them in decision-making, and formulating policies aligned with their aspirations are now extremely urgent.”
