Bangladesh’s latest election battlegrounds: TikTok, Facebook, YouTube

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by By Moudud Ahmmed SujanJanuary 22, 2026 at 06:14 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Ahead of Bangladesh's February 12th election, political parties are actively campaigning on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube to reach millions of voters. While on-the-ground campaigning begins January 22nd, online battles have been ongoing for months, particularly targeting Gen Z voters who played a role in the recent ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are using viral songs and other content to promote their platforms and criticize their opponents. The election is shaping up to be a contest between the BNP and a Jamaat-led alliance, with social media playing a crucial role in influencing voters.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Instagram 30% Dhaka ×240% HAL Banna 40% Jatiya Party 60% TikTok ×260% Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ×470% Facebook ×270% YouTube ×270% Awami League (AL) ×370% Sheikh Hasina ×270% Jamaat-e-Islami ×480% Bangladesh ×990%

Keywords

bangladesh election 100% social media 90% online campaigning 80% political anthem 70% gen z voters 60% jamaat-e-islami 60% bnp 50% awami league 50% tiktok 40% youtube 40%