With national elections just five months away, Bangladesh’s political stage is increasingly shifting to the streets as major parties step up their programmes to push their own agendas while continuing to engage in dialogue.
Two rival blocs – BNP on one side, and Jamaat-e-Islami with its allies on the other – have outlined separate plans for political showdowns. These moves highlight the growing contest for influence in the absence of the Awami League, which was overthrown from power last year.
The Islamist parties, encouraged by recent victories in student elections at Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities, have announced demonstrations across the country. Their demands centre on giving legal status to the July Charter and introducing proportional representation in the next election.
The BNP, widely seen as the largest political party, outlined a parallel campaign in a meeting of the party’s standing committee on Monday. Its strategy includes door-to-door outreach, presenting a 31-point reform plan, and finalising its election manifesto. BNP leaders argue that the election must proceed in February 2026 as scheduled, regardless of the pace of consensus-building on reforms.
Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, two factions of Khelafat Majlis, and Nezam-e-Islami Party are beginning their programmes today with separate protest rallies at different points of Baitul Mokarram.
They will continue these types of “soft programmes” until September 26. The parties have warned of stronger measures, such as strikes and road blockades, if their demands are not addressed by that time.
Countering them, BNP has announced a series of programmes across the country to ensure that the election cannot be delayed because of the demonstrations from the Islamic parties, BNP sources said, adding that its main objective is not to drive people towards the election. “We want to create a wave of voting at all corners of the country,” a top leader said.
At the centre of contention is the July Charter, which calls for trials of crimes committed during the uprising, major electoral reforms, and new systems of proportional representation in the parliament.
While most parties support reforms in principle, they remain divided on scope and method. Some want proportional representation across both parliamentary houses, while others prefer it limited to one. Proposals for a referendum have also been raised.
The National Consensus Commission (NCC), tasked with building agreement, has so far been unable to reconcile these differences despite months of consultations with more than 30 parties. Its most recent high-level meeting on 14 September, attended by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, ended without agreement as parties restated their own positions.
“The path of politics is determined on the streets on many occasions,” Prof Dilara Choudhury, former head of the Department of Governance and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, said.
If the Islamic parties are on the streets, she said, BNP will also take some measures to counter them.
According to writer Mohiuddin Ahmed, it is too early to say that politics has returned to the street, but it is clear that there is division among the political parties. “We need to wait to see whether the divisions will be resolved through dialogue or be determined on the streets.”
For Jamaat and its allies, street mobilisation is also a way to demonstrate that BNP cannot unilaterally shape the reform process. They point to BNP’s recent setbacks in student politics as proof that other forces must be given space in the transition.
The NCC’s tenure ended this week without any breakthrough, adding to the sense of political tension. However, its tenure has been extended by one month, within which the government believes all parties will reach a consensus on the unresolved issues.
BNP insists the election must be held in February, while the Islamist bloc believes the polls should wait until key issues are settled. Both camps are ready to show their strength, setting the stage for a period of heightened activity on the streets.
Amid this, the interim government on Wednesday held dialogues with 30 political parties, including BNP and Jamaat.
For the interim government led by Professor Yunus, the challenge is to maintain momentum toward elections while keeping competing demands in balance.
Political analysts say the coming weeks will show whether dialogue and agitation can converge into an agreed path forward or whether competing programmes will deepen the divide as the election approaches.
