As physical campaigning for the 13th National Parliamentary Election ends, political contestation in Bangladesh has not slowed-it has simply moved online. With rallies, processions, and door-to-door outreach halted under election regulations, parties and candidates are intensifying their digital presence, making social media the final battleground for votes. The question is whether this shift will influence election outcomes or simply deepen existing divisions.
Over the past decade, online campaigning has become central to Bangladesh's politics, and this election is no exception.
Facebook pages, YouTube channels, TikTok videos, WhatsApp groups, and livestreamed or recorded speeches shared via mobile phones are now key tools for circulating messages, countering opponents, and mobilising supporters. For parties constrained by restrictions on physical mobilisation, digital platforms offer speed, scale, and relative anonymity.
The scale of online engagement explains this shift. According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Bangladesh had around 130 million internet users as of November 2025-about 74 per cent of the 176 million population.
A late-2025 report by digital research platform DataReportal shows approximately 64 million Facebook users, 50 million YouTube users, 56 million TikTok users aged 18 and above, and 9.15 million Instagram users. The number of X (formerly Twitter) users is lower, around 17.9 million.
Analysts say this digital footprint makes online campaigning unavoidable. Supporters argue it expands access, especially for young voters politically activated during the July-August 2024 uprising. Short videos, memes, and live discussions allow candidates to reach this demographic directly, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. For first-time voters, online platforms provide information on candidates, manifestos, and national issues in an immediate, familiar format.
The online shift brings challenges. Unlike physical campaigns, digital spaces are weakly regulated. Misinformation, disinformation, and manipulated content spread rapidly, often faster than fact-checkers can respond. Fake videos, selective clips, and inflammatory posts can shape public perceptions within hours, influencing undecided voters without accountability.
Coordinated manipulation is another risk. Networks of pages and accounts can artificially amplify narratives, creating an illusion of popularity or consensus. In a polarised environment, these tactics may deepen mistrust rather than inform choice. For sceptical voters, online hostility and misinformation can reinforce disengagement.
Unequal access limits digital campaigning's reach. While urban youth are highly connected, many rural voters, elderly citizens, and economically marginalised groups remain offline or rely on limited data. For them, online outreach shapes perceptions more than turnout.
Security concerns persist. Political expression online can attract harassment, threats, or surveillance, especially for women and dissenting voices. This discourages open discussion and narrows visible viewpoints, creating echo chambers rather than debate.
Institutionally, the Election Commission faces a challenge. While physical campaigns can be monitored, online spaces cross platforms and borders.
Will online campaigning affect the result? The answer is nuanced. Digital platforms are unlikely to overturn entrenched voting patterns or make up for weak ground organisation. But they can influence momentum, shape narratives, and mobilise-or demobilise-specific groups, especially young and undecided voters. In close constituencies, perception may matter as much as persuasion.
Ultimately, online campaigning is a tool, not a substitute for trust. Where institutions are credible and competition is fair, digital engagement can enrich democratic participation. Where fear, misinformation, and distrust dominate, it risks becoming another source of confusion and polarisation. As Bangladesh moves from physical silence to digital noise, the impact of online campaigning will depend less on algorithms and more on accountability-from political actors, platforms, and institutions alike.
