Dhaka, Feb 4 (.) More than nine in ten Bangladesh voters surveyed say they intend to cast a ballot in the upcoming national election, while a small but significant minority currently remains undecided or plans to stay away, according to a new nationwide opinion poll released on Wednesday.
The survey, titled “Uncovering the Public Pulse: Findings from a Nationwide Survey,” was conducted jointly by the Communication and Research Foundation (CRF) and the Bangladesh Election and Public Opinion Studies. Its findings were presented at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Presenting the results, CRF Strategic Coordinator Zakaria Palash said more than 90% of respondents expressed a clear intention to vote, while about 8% said they were either unsure or did not plan to participate. The poll also points to a significant realignment of voter preferences following the ban on the Awami League from contesting the election.
According to the survey, 48.2% of voters who previously supported the Awami League said they now plan to vote for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Another 29.9% said they would shift their support to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, while 6.5 percent indicated a preference for the National Citizens Party (NCP). Around 13% said they would vote for other parties, and 2.4% remained undecided.
Among first-time voters — those voting for the first time since 2008 — the survey found that 37.4 per cent intend to support Jamaat-e-Islami, 27% the BNP, and 17% the NCP, while 18.6% said they had not yet made up their minds.
The poll was conducted across 180 parliamentary constituencies in all 64 districts of the country, with 11,038 voters participating. Data collection took place in two phases between November 20, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
Reportedly, the topics of voting are less religion-oriented and more focused on removing the entrenched corruption within the political system, and repairing the damaged economy, which has taken a hammering since the interim govt came to power.
On the issues shaping voter choices, corruption emerged as the most decisive factor. More than two-thirds of respondents — 67.3% — said corruption would be a key consideration when casting their vote. Religion was cited as an important factor by 35.9% of voters, while rising commodity prices, development, employment opportunities and security were also highlighted as major concerns.
The survey also suggests that voters are placing a premium on leadership perceived as people-oriented and capable of delivering strong governance. Zakaria Palash said respondents appeared to be prioritising candidates with broad public support over individual credentials alone.
Asked whether party affiliation or individual candidates matter more, 33.2% of respondents said they consider both equally important. About 30.4% said they focus primarily on the party, while 30.2% prioritise the candidate. A further 6.1% said they were still undecided on that question.
While voter enthusiasm is high, with the survey showing an even greater enthusiasm among people to cast their votes than last time, the Awami League’s absence is still a major factor, in turn creating increasing uncertainty, as an 8% undecided voter base could translate to 80% as per poll officials if the security situation is bad during the ballots.
Where the voter base of the banned party goes now is still a critical factor, as there is high uncertainty among people as to whether the polls will be fair, neutral, and free at all. . . .