The election campaign for the 13th parliamentary polls and referendum drew to a close amid a festive and highly charged atmosphere, as candidates and party leaders made their final push to win over voters across the country.
Although campaigning officially ends at 7:30am on Tuesday, Monday effectively marked the final day of public outreach, with rallies, marches and door-to-door visits stretching late into the night.
From the capital Dhaka to district towns and rural constituencies, streets were filled with party flags, loudspeakers and chanting supporters. Candidates sought to make the most of the final hours of the campaign period, which began on 22 January, urging voters to turn out and backing their appeals with last-minute promises on jobs, development and security.
Senior leaders from major political parties remained on the campaign trail throughout the day. Roadside rallies, public meetings and house-to-house canvassing were seen across many constituencies, with several areas reporting campaign activities continuing until midnight.
In a rare prime-time moment on the final evening, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman separately addressed the nation on state television, outlining their parties’ visions and renewing pledges on governance, economic recovery and electoral transparency.
The Election Commission has said voting will take place on 12 February from 7:30am to 4:00pm. A total of 127.7 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. The smallest electorate is in Jhalokathi-1, with just over 228,000 voters, while Gazipur-2 has the largest voter base, exceeding 804,000.
Polling will be held at 42,779 centres nationwide, comprising more than 247,000 voting booths. Elections will take place in 299 constituencies, after voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed following the death of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.
Fifty-one political parties are contesting the election, with 2,034 candidates in the race, including 275 independents. BNP is contesting 291 seats under the Sheaf-of-Paddy symbol, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh has fielded 258 candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami 229, National Citizen Party 32, and Jatiya Party 198.
In Dhaka, Tarique Rahman led a series of rallies across multiple constituencies, beginning at Kamal Ataturk Avenue in Banani and moving through Kalabagan, Motijheel, Goran and several other neighbourhoods. Addressing supporters, he pledged to prioritise job creation, investment, skills training, law and order and the protection of votes.
Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman campaigned in Mohammadpur, Agargaon and Taltala before holding rallies in his own constituency of Dhaka-15 and later in Dohar. His appearances drew large crowds, with supporters chanting slogans and waving party flags.
Independent candidate Tasnim Jara spent the day engaging directly with voters in Dhaka-9, moving through residential areas, marketplaces and transport hubs from morning until late at night. Similar scenes played out in Dhaka-8 and Dhaka-17, where candidates from rival parties criss-crossed neighbourhoods in a final attempt to mobilise undecided voters.
Outside the capital, campaigning remained intense in constituencies including Cumilla, Naogaon, Netrakona and Bagerhat. In some areas, rival candidates traded allegations over vote manipulation and misuse of money, while elsewhere the focus remained on pledges to tackle corruption, improve women’s safety, generate employment and ensure free and fair elections.
From Chattogram to Bhola and Pirojpur, the presence of senior leaders and the mobilisation of grassroots workers heightened the sense of anticipation. As campaign banners were taken down and loudspeakers fell silent, both voters and candidates appeared keenly aware that the long weeks of campaigning had reached their decisive moment.
