Survey reveals economic woesPolls urgency shape voters' sentiments in BD

Rising economic concerns and demands for timely elections are shaping voter sentiment in Bangladesh, according to a recent survey by Innovision Consulting.

The findings of the survey, “People’s Election Pulse: Feb-March 2025,” were presented in Dhaka on Saturday.

The survey, involving 10,696 respondents across all eight divisions and 64 districts, sheds light on public priorities and political inclinations following the fall of the previous regime in August 2024.

The survey revealed that 69.6% of respondents identified price hikes as their most pressing concern, followed by law and order (45.2%) and job growth (29.1%). While 55.05% felt inflation remains unresolved, only 2.62% believed the government had fully addressed the issue.

The study also highlighted a strong public demand for elections before the end of 2025. Nearly 58.1% of respondents want the election this year, while 31.6% favour a June 2025 election, and 26.5% prefer it in December 2025. Only 10.9% supported delaying elections beyond December 2025.

Political preferences showed the BNP leading with 41.7% support, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami at 31.6% and Awami League at 14%. Notably, the BNP has stronger support among Generation X and Boomers, while Generation Z's preferences are more evenly divided between the BNP and the Jamaat.

Undecided voters remain a significant factor, with 29.4% yet to choose a party. Among them, 49.3% want to know of the candidates before deciding, while 33.9% are waiting to assess the political climate. Female voters account for a larger share of undecided voters (33.77%) compared to men (25.81%).

Social and media influence also plays a crucial role in shaping voter decisions. Family remains the strongest influence (47%), while social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok influence 18.28% of voters. Traditional media outlets, including television (15.18%) and newspapers (4.25%), retain some impact.

Despite the ongoing debate on institutional reforms, only 9.3% of respondents prioritized political reforms, and just 5.3% emphasized constitutional changes.

Fahim Mashroor, CEO of BDJOBS, said that "Opinion surveys are crucial in a democracy as they provide an unbiased reflection of public sentiment. Political parties and governments should actively use such data to adjust their policies and engage with voters."

The findings, presented by Innovision's Managing Director Md Rubaiyath Sarwar, emphasizes the pressing economic concerns and evolving political landscape as Bangladesh approaches its next election.