Half of Bangladeshis undecided about who to vote in general election, survey finds

Bangladeshis have been torn over their voting choice for the general election, according to a recent survey.

Conducted in July by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), the poll found that 49 percent of respondents have yet to decide whom they will vote for.

In comparison, 38 percent were in a similar dilemma in October.

Women showed higher levels of uncertainty than men, with 55 percent of female respondents undecided in July 2025, up from 43 percent in October 2024.

The survey results were published on Monday at an event jointly organised by BIGD and the reform-focused civic platform “Voice for Reform” in Dhaka.

Between Jul 1 and 20, telephone interviews were conducted with 5,489 people across all districts of Bangladesh. Among them, 53 percent were men and 47 percent women; 73 percent lived in rural areas and 27 percent in cities.

The report notes that support for the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami has declined over the past eight months. Support has also dipped for Islamic parties, the banned Awami League, and the Jatiya Party.

The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), established by student leaders involved in the July Uprising, has gained traction.

When asked whom they would vote for, 12 percent named BNP, 10.4 percent Jamaat-e-Islami, and 2.8 percent the NCP.

In October, the votes were 16.3 percent for the BNP, 11.3 percent for the Jamaat, and 2 percent for the student-led party.

Support for the Awami League fell from 8.9 percent in October to 7.3 percent in the latest survey. The Jatiya Party’s votes declined from 0.7 to 0.3 percent, while other Islamic parties dropped from 2.6 to 0.7 percent.

Regarding election timing, 32 percent want polls before December, 12 percent believe elections should be held by February 2026, and 25 percent prefer a date after December 2026.

On whether the upcoming national election will be free and fair, 70 percent responded positively, while 15 percent doubted its fairness.

BIGD said political optimism from August 2024 has gradually waned. In July 2025, only 42 percent believe the country is heading in the right political direction, down from 56 percent in October 2024 and 71 percent in August 2024.

Approval of the interim government’s activities has also declined over time, from 75 percent in August 2024 to 68 percent in October 2024, and then to 63 percent in July 2025.

Among public concerns, 80 percent identified mob violence as a major problem. Along with that, 67 percent mentioned harassment over clothing, 61 percent expressed concerns over safety at night, and 56 percent said women’s security remains poor.