BNP, Jamaat give importance on youth voters
Reza Mahmud :
The two major rival parties of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election are giving utmost importances to the desires of the youth voters as about 45 millions of these electorates emerge as the key deciding force in the race.
As per the views of politicians and analysts, the upcoming election is set to add a new dimension to Bangladesh’s political history.
In the aftermath of the July mass uprising, the resulting political realignment, expectations of a comparatively participatory election after a decade and a half, and the massive presence of young voters have together made the February 12 election the most crucial political test of the time.
In this view, the major political parties, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are decorating their electoral strategies including drafting polls manifestos highlighting the desires of the youths.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told The New Nation, “Our election manifest will be consisted the commitments to match with the dreams and desires of the youth populations of Bangladesh.”
He said, which Bangladesh the youths are want, we are committed to build such a country through the election.
When contacted, Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson and party’s Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer told The New Nation, “Jamaat will give utmost importance to the youths of the country in its manifesto.”
“We have cluster plans to build a next generation’s Bangladesh through implementing the dreams of the youth people of the country,” Jobayer said.
Analysts said, in this election, the country’s youth voters will play a pivotal role as ‘kingmaker’ in determining victory or defeat.
After being deprived of voting rights for a long period and with a large influx of new voters, nearly 45 million young voters are now ready to franchise their political will through the ballot.
According to the Election Commission (EC) and political analysts, if roughly one-third of the total electorate-this young demographic-actively turns out at polling centers, the election outcome could swing in any direction.
Statistics show that in the 2008 national election, Bangladesh had a total of 81,087,003 voters. According to updated data from the Election Commission as of November 18, 2025, the current number of voters has risen to 127,695,183.
That means the voter base has increased by more than 46.6 million over the past 17 years. Among them, female voters number 62,879,042.
According to the EC’s latest data, the total number of voters stands at approximately 127.7 million. Of these, nearly 45 million voters are aged between 18 and 35. Under the National Youth Policy, this age bracket is officially classified as “youth.”
Age-based analysis by the EC shows that voters aged 18 to 33 alone number around 43.2 million.
This includes: New voters aged 18-21: more than 8.5 million, ages 22-25: approximately 12 million, ages 26-29: approximately 12.1 million and ages 30-33: approximately 10.6 million.
In other words, nearly one-third of the country’s total electorate consists of young people-who have the capacity to alter the outcome of any parliamentary seat.
The widespread participation and sacrifice of young people in the July 2024 movement have further intensified political awareness.
Mohammad Abdur Razzaq, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Dhaka University, said that voters under 30 will be the most influential group this time. “Their interest in how the state will be run is higher than ever before,” he noted.
Professor Mahbubur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Department of Political Science believes that the July mass uprising and the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August have fundamentally altered the country’s political reality.
He further noted that in the age of social media, news of student union elections spreads nationwide within moments, influencing youth psychology-an impact that may also be reflected in the national election.
Meanwhile, ahead of the national election, victories by right-wing student organizations in student union elections at Dhaka University and five other public universities have sparked fresh debate in national politics. Analysts believe this reflects a shift in the youth mindset.
In this time, young voters are prioritizing logic over emotion. Conversations with ten young voters from different regions revealed a diverse range of expectations: Democracy and freedom of expression, employment and merit-based evaluation, safe campuses and women’s security, religious freedom and security, international standing and Visa Crisis, commodity prices and market regulation, technology and digital rights, education and research funding, corruption-free administration, agriculture and local development.
According to analysts, Bangladesh has now gained a politically conscious youth population. Social media allows young voters to closely monitor the actions of parties and candidates, making decision-making increasingly data-driven.
This digitally skilled generation can quickly verify candidates’ past records, financial transparency, and political positions. Those who move beyond traditional politics and can embody transparency, good governance, and the aspirations of youth are likely to gain an advantage.