With one month remaining before voting, election-related activities have gained momentum across Bangladesh, but campaigning around the upcoming referendum remains largely absent, leaving many voters confused about its purpose and implications.
“I have heard that this year we have to cast two votes—one for the parliamentary election and another for a referendum. But I don’t understand why I should vote in the referendum,” said Azizur Rahman, a resident of Nalkot village in Sylhet Sadar upazila.
The referendum and the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election are scheduled to be held simultaneously on February 12, marking the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a parliamentary election and a referendum will take place on the same day. While voters are generally familiar with the parliamentary election, uncertainty persists regarding the referendum, including what issues it covers and what a “yes” or “no” vote would signify.
Discussions at tea stalls and in neighborhoods across the country are dominated by the parliamentary race, but the referendum remains largely outside public discourse. Field-level observations indicate that a significant portion of voters are unaware of the subject matter of the referendum. Although the national election has generated a festive atmosphere, campaigning for the referendum is virtually nonexistent.
Among political parties, Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Islami Andolan, and the Khilafat Majlis alliance have been campaigning in favor of the referendum. However, mainstream parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have shown little interest.
On Monday morning, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at his residence in Kalibari area of Thakurgaon town that campaigning for the referendum was not BNP’s responsibility.
“It is not BNP’s responsibility to campaign for the referendum. It is the people’s responsibility to vote. Whether they decide yes or no, that is what will happen,” he said.
Public confusion over referendum
The confusion expressed by Azizur Rahman is echoed by others across the country. Lokman Talukdar of Companiganj in Sylhet said that although he is accustomed to voting through ballot papers, the referendum process appears unclear to him.
Similar sentiments were found in the Rajshahi division. Shariful Islam, a farmer from the Lalpur area of Tanore upazila who has voted regularly since 2008, said holding two votes on the same day is a challenge.
“There is no discussion about the referendum in our area, and there is no festive environment around it,” he said.
Bir Muktijoddha Rakibul Islam of Paba upazila in Rajshahi expressed concern, saying: “We fought the Liberation War for people’s voting rights. The referendum is an important part of that right. But if people do not know why it is being held or how it will shape their future, then where is the value of this vote?”
Dhaka candidates focus on parliamentary race
In Dhaka’s 20 parliamentary constituencies, candidates are intensifying door-to-door campaigns, but the referendum remains largely absent from their outreach. Most candidates are seeking votes solely for their own electoral symbols, focusing on crossing their individual electoral hurdles. Even heavyweight candidates from major parties have remained silent on the referendum.
Several candidates said they are waiting for directives from their party’s top leadership.
There are, however, exceptions. In Dhaka-9, NCP candidate Jabed Rasin has adopted a dual-message strategy. One side of his leaflet promotes his electoral symbol, “Shapla Kali,” while the other urges voters to support a “yes” vote in the referendum. He said that to uphold the spirit of the July movement, a referendum on reform is essential.
In Dhaka-12, Ganosamhati Andolan candidate Taslima Akter, and in Dhaka-5, Islami Andolan candidate Haji Ibrahim, are also campaigning in favor of a “yes” vote.
BNP’s stance remains different. Dhaka-4 BNP candidate Tanvir Ahmed Robin said he is currently focused only on his party symbol, the “Sheaf of Paddy.” In Dhaka-8, BNP heavyweight Mirza Abbas has not addressed the referendum directly, but his wife, Afroza Abbas, has generated controversy by campaigning for a “no” vote on social media.
Political divide over campaign responsibility
Political divisions over responsibility for referendum campaigning have become increasingly visible. While BNP has distanced itself from the campaign, parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islami Andolan view the referendum as a struggle to preserve the spirit of the July uprising.
Jamaat candidates, including Mahbubar Rahman Belal in Rangpur and Kamrul Ahsan Emrul in Mymensingh, said securing a “yes” vote is a moral obligation to honor the contributions of the July fighters.
Leftist parties remain skeptical. Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader Tridib Saha said the party has “notes of dissent” on several aspects of the referendum. BASAD (Marxist) leader Rafiquzzaman Farid said: “Most of the processes of the referendum are questionable.”
Government efforts and limitations
The government has attempted to promote the referendum through mosque imams and field-level officials. Campaigns through workshops and “vote vehicles” are being conducted in divisional cities, but these efforts have failed to reach large sections of the population.
Ali Riaz, chief coordinator of referendum campaign activities, expressed optimism that the shortcomings could be addressed within the next week.
Speaking at a meeting on Monday, he said: “If ‘yes’ wins in this referendum, there will never again be ‘night voting’ in the country. The path to the deceptions carried out in the name of elections over the past 16 years will be permanently closed.”
He added that the caretaker government system was previously established to ensure fair elections but was abolished by past authoritarian regimes to retain power.
“If the people give consent in the upcoming referendum, the caretaker government system will be restored and a fair election system will be reestablished,” he said.
Professor Riaz also noted that this referendum differs from previous ones in Bangladesh’s history.
“Earlier referendums were held by governments in power to implement their own agendas. In the referendum of ’26, no one in power is seeking the people’s mandate to implement an agenda,” he said, adding that political parties have pledged to implement the July Charter and that future governments will be responsible for enforcing the people’s verdict.
Confusion across divisions
Voters in Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna, Chittagong, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions reported similar confusion. Many said they lack basic information about the referendum and have not seen visible campaigning. Numerous voters said they do not know what issues the referendum covers or what “yes” and “no” represent.
In Mymensingh, voters Shahin Mia and Shahid Mia said confusion among the public is widespread. Hasan Mahbub of Tarakanda said the Election Commission must become more effective to preserve the July spirit.
In the port city of Chattogram, voters Zaynab Begum and Rafiqul Islam said they recognize parliamentary candidates but are unfamiliar with the referendum. Human rights activist Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan questioned the absence of traditional large-scale campaigns, recalling leaflet distribution from helicopters and loudspeaker announcements during the era of Ziaur Rahman.
In Barisal city’s Kaunia area, Shoaib Saki said he had heard that the referendum would combine multiple issues into a single vote.
“If I do not agree with all of the issues, why should I give a single yes or no?” he asked.
Rafiqul Alam of the Conscious Citizens’ Committee claimed that the referendum contradicts the constitution.
Khulna regional election officer Faisal Kader issued a warning against promoting the national election under the guise of referendum campaigning. Meanwhile, voters in remote areas of Rangpur said that although major party candidates visit to seek votes, they rarely even mention the referendum.
Growing concerns
Teachers, civil society members, and political leaders across regions said that although the referendum is an important democratic process, its objectives and consequences have not been clearly communicated to voters. Some warned that holding both votes on the same day could deepen voter confusion.
Civil society representatives and human rights activists noted that while conducting two votes simultaneously may be economically efficient, the lack of public outreach could undermine participation. Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan said the absence of extensive publicity through television, radio, and other traditional means could result in voters returning from polling centers without casting informed votes.
February 12 is not only a day for political power transition, but potentially a transformative moment for Bangladesh’s state structure. However, questions remain over whether voters fully understand the weight of their “yes” or “no” decision.
Rajshahi University student Sohag Ali summarized the challenge, saying: “Not everyone in the country is educated, and referendums are not held regularly. Holding this vote without making people understand it is a major challenge.”
