Although the Awami League is barred from contesting the 13th parliamentary election and its name will not appear on the ballot, party activists at grassroots level are playing an increasingly visible role in campaigns across Bangladesh.
Despite a central directive urging supporters to boycott the election under the slogan “no boat, no vote”, a TIMES of Bangladesh investigation has found Awami League workers quietly—and in some cases openly—backing rival candidates, including those from the BNP and Jamaat, as well as independents.
Party workers cite a mix of reasons for defying the boycott call, including local political survival, personal security and calculations about future alignments in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Reports from various parts of the country, including Dhaka, Madaripur, Rajshahi and Faridpur, suggest Awami League figures have taken part in campaign meetings, canvassing and public processions, often alongside rival parties.
According to the investigation, the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 has left many local leaders under pressure. While some senior figures remain abroad, rank-and-file members say they are facing harassment and uncertainty at home, fuelling resentment towards leaders issuing instructions from overseas.
That frustration appears to be translating into quiet rebellion. In Madaripur’s Shibchar on 3 February, Awami League leaders attended a courtyard meeting organised by local BNP activists at the home of former mayor and Awami League leader Awlad Hossain Khan.
Afterwards, several were heard chanting pro-BNP slogans and urging voters to support BNP candidate Nadira Akter. Participants said they were acting on the instructions of former chief whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton.
Former municipal councillor and Awami League leader Akhtar Hossain told TIMES, “We will vote for Nadira and ensure she gets the highest number of votes from the municipality.”
The party leadership disputes such actions. Awami League leader AFM Bahauddin Nasim said elections without his party were meaningless. He added that many activists were backing candidates out of fear but would ultimately stay away from polling stations.
Political analyst Professor Sabbir Ahmed told TIMES that the gap between leadership rhetoric and grassroots reality was stark. He argued that if Awami League supporters turn out in significant numbers, turnout could rise, lending the election a degree of legitimacy. In tightly contested seats, their votes could also be the deciding factor.
As a result, all major contenders are now courting Awami League voters. Both BNP and Jamaat leaders have adopted more conciliatory language, implicitly acknowledging the former ruling party’s continued grassroots influence.
Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Mobarak Hossain questioned why struggling Awami League workers should heed leaders “living comfortably abroad after looting the country’s resources”.
He said many supporters, unable to vote in previous elections, were keen to participate this time and would back “honest and capable candidates”.
BNP chief’s adviser and Pabna-4 candidate Habibur Rahman Habib said Awami League’s “innocent voters” would back BNP candidates to protect sovereignty, minorities and security, adding that grassroots supporters were active and intended to vote.
Observers monitoring campaigns in recent days say Awami League activists are operating with growing confidence in several constituencies.
In some cases, central leaders have reportedly issued area-specific guidance, urging a “no” vote in the referendum and tacit support for BNP candidates. Local activists, however, often appear to be making their own choices.
On 3 February in Dhaka-19 (Savar-Ashulia), Roushan Ara Lovely—wife of former state minister Enamur Rahman—and her brother Saiful Islam were seen campaigning for BNP candidate Dewan Salahuddin Babu. A video of the event later circulated widely on social media.
Violence has also erupted. On 5 February in Rajshahi-4’s Bagmara upazila, Awami League supporters Mahidul Islam, 48, and Enamul Haque, 27, were assaulted while campaigning for Jamaat candidate Abdul Bari. Police said a 22-year-old man named Shanto had been arrested in connection with the attack.
In Shariatpur-2, local Awami League figures say some elected representatives are backing BNP candidate Shafiqul Rahman Kiron on the instructions of former MP AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, while others aligned with Shamim’s younger brother are campaigning for the Jamaat candidate.
Similar patterns have been reported in Satkhira, where Awami League activists have appeared at Jamaat rallies, and in Jhenaidah-4, where many are openly backing BNP rebel candidate Saiful Islam Firoz.
Despite these developments, senior leaders insist the official line remains unchanged. A close ally of party leader Sheikh Hasina, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, said supporters had been clearly instructed to boycott what he described as a one-sided election.
He argued that past governments formed without the Awami League had failed to complete their terms or gain public trust, and said the party believed the upcoming vote would again fail to produce a sustainable government.
On the ground, however, many Awami League activists speaking anonymously say local conditions and security concerns are driving their decisions. They suggest that while they may campaign openly for other candidates, many could ultimately gravitate towards independents when casting their ballots.
What is increasingly clear, analysts say, is that even without a symbol on the ballot, the Awami League’s grassroots presence is shaping the dynamics of the election—and may yet influence its outcome.
