65.9 pc prefers reforms to polls: VOA

Staff Reporter :

A recent nationwide survey conducted by VOA Bangla reveals that 61.1% of Bangladeshis believe the next general election should be held within a year.

But, a larger segment of the population (65.9%) advocates for completing all necessary reforms before proceeding with the election, indicating significant public support for thorough preparation over expediency.

The survey, carried out by ORG-Quest Research Limited under VOA Bangla’s editorial guidance, gathered responses from 1,000 individuals aged 18 and above across Bangladesh’s eight divisions.

Using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, participants were selected via random digit dialling (RDD), ensuring a representative sample. The survey, conducted between 13 and 27 October, has a margin of error of 3.1%.

Diverse Opinions on Election Timing

While a majority prefers elections within a year, 31.9% of
respondents favour holding elections after only urgent electoral reforms are implemented.

Meanwhile, 18.7% support elections within two to three years, and 8.6% believe polls should occur within 18 months. A minority of 5.8% want the elections postponed for four years or more.

Interestingly, 4.6% of respondents expressed uncertainty about election timing, while 1.1% declined to answer.

The survey highlighted slight variations in preferences between urban and rural populations, with 60.4% of urban respondents and 61.4% of rural participants supporting elections within a year. Gender differences were also evident, as 65% of women preferred elections within a year compared to 57.3% of men.

Support for Comprehensive Reforms

A vast majority (65.9%) of respondents believe all necessary reforms identified by the interim government should be completed before the election. Among these reforms, key areas of focus include:
Electoral Commission: Supported by 96.5% of respondents.

Police Reforms: Supported by 92.3%.
Judicial Reforms: Supported by 95.3%.
Economic Sector Reforms: Backed by 96.4%.
Constitutional Reforms: Favoured by 92.5%.
Only 31.9% of respondents supported elections after addressing urgent election-related reforms.

Perception of the Interim Government’s Performance

The survey assessed public perception of the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, which took office on 8 August following the fall of the Awami League government.

A majority (58.4%) believe the interim government is governing better than its predecessor, while 40.5% think it is performing either worse or similarly.

Among those critical of the interim government, 20.4% consider its governance worse, while 20.1% view it as similar to the Awami League administration.

Urban residents (61.9%) and men (62%) were more likely to rate the interim government’s performance favourably than their rural (57.3%) and female (54.8%) counterparts.

Public Safety and Law Enforcement

Regarding law and order, 63.2% of respondents opined that the interim government is managing security better than the Awami League did. However, opinions on personal safety were evenly divided: 49.8% felt safer under the interim government, while 49.9% believed their safety had either declined or remained the same.

The survey also found that 23% felt safer during the Awami League’s tenure, and 26.9% reported no change in their sense of security between the two administrations.

Call for Election Roadmap

The absence of a clear election roadmap has been a contentious issue. While political parties, civil society, and international stakeholders have urged the government to announce a timeline, the interim administration has prioritised reforms, emphasising their necessity for democratic consolidation.