Social media becoming powerful in politics 

Social media has evolved from a platform for sharing information into one of the most influential forces in Bangladesh's politics, shaping public opinion, election strategies, political campaigns, party organisation and responses to political developments.

As political communication increasingly shifts online, major political parties are expanding their digital operations. They are strengthening media cells, intensifying online campaigns and building skilled teams to manage their presence across social media platforms.

Political analysts say television, newspapers, posters, leaflets and public rallies were once the main channels for political campaigns. Today, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram have become key platforms, enabling parties to reach millions of people instantly.

According to the “Digital 2025: Bangladesh” report by DataReportal, Bangladesh had about 60 million active social media users at the beginning of 2025, representing 34.3 percent of the country's population. Internet users reached 77.7 million, or 44.5 percent of the population. The report says the number of social media users increased by 13.3 percent compared with 2024.

Data from StatCounter Global Stats shows that Facebook remains the most popular social media platform in Bangladesh, followed by YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and X.

There are differing views on the scale of political parties' investment in digital campaigns. While some believe major parties are spending crores of taka on social media campaigns, others argue that building skilled human resources is more important than spending money.

Former Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain (Prince) told the Daily Observer that social media has become a powerful political platform. Although targeted propaganda campaigns exist, he said public opinion expressed on social media now influences all political parties, including the ruling party.

"People once expressed their views through large rallies and processions. In many cases, social media is now playing that role," he said.

Prince also claimed that the country's major political parties are investing crores of taka in social media campaigns.
However, Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, a member of the Central Executive Council of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and secretary of its Publicity Department, offered a different perspective. He said politics evolves with time and political parties adapt their strategies to changes in society.

Asked about claims that political parties spend crores of taka on social media campaigns, Akand said he had no information on the matter and therefore did not want to comment.

Political communication experts say almost all major political parties now operate dedicated media cells. These teams typically include content writers, video editors, graphic designers, photographers, social media managers, data analysts, IT experts and live-streaming personnel. Many parties also maintain round-the-clock monitoring units.

However, there is no publicly available detailed account of political parties' digital spending. The Election Commission's expenditure statements also do not separately disclose spending on digital campaigns. Experts say major costs include video production, graphic design, studio management, digital advertising, software, data analysis, monitoring and manpower.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said both accurate and false information spread rapidly on social media, making it essential for people to verify information before accepting it.

He also said an Islamic political party has been accused of building a strong online workforce to spread propaganda, although he did not name the party. He urged people to remain cautious of political propaganda.

On the other hand, Akand alleged that the Awami League and its allies were using social media to spread propaganda against the country due to a lack of effective control and accountability.

Researchers say Meta Ad Library has become an important tool for analysing political advertisements online. Meanwhile, Google Trends shows that online searches related to political parties and leaders rise sharply during elections, political crises and major political rallies.

A joint report by "We Are Social and Meltwater" says video-based content is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among young voters. Political parties are now producing reels, short videos, infographics, podcasts, live discussions and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content to engage audiences.

Experts, however, warn that deepfakes, fake news, bot accounts and coordinated online propaganda have emerged as major challenges. They believe digital politics will continue to expand alongside traditional grassroots politics, but stress that fact-checking, accountability and the responsible use of social media are essential.

Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Saiful Haque said social media is a powerful platform for shaping political opinion but warned that its potential is being undermined by the spread of false information.

"Just as we clean a toilet after using it, social media should also be kept clean for the next user. Otherwise, the state, society, family and individuals will all suffer," he said.