'Vote vehicle' gathers over 40,000 public messages ahead of referendum, polls

As part of an awareness campaign ahead of the 2026 referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Election Commission's travelling "vote vehicle" has collected 40,206 comments so far through its "public opinion box" – a mobile platform inviting citizens to directly share their thoughts with the state.

What has emerged is not a single demand but a mosaic of voices: personal grief, frustration with public services, calls for state reform, justice for the July killings, gender equality, child safety, quality education, and a corruption-free, non-partisan Bangladesh.

Some notes carry hope; others simmer with anger and sharp criticism of the government.

Officials say the submissions reflect a public that wants more than just to vote – it wants to be heard. 

Dhaka division recorded the highest number of responses at 10,216, many pointing to service-related harassment, job pressures and anxiety around election-day safety.

Rajshahi's 5,738 comments frequently mentioned fairness, education and rural deprivation.

Chattogram logged 6,006 notes, including appeals from workers seeking leave to cast their ballots and demands for secure polling centres.

In Khulna's 4,678 submissions, rising living costs and market instability dominated.

Rangpur's 3,605 reflected struggles with poverty and limited opportunity.

Thousands more from Barishal, Mymensingh and Sylhet voiced the concerns of marginalised communities while expressing cautious optimism for change.

The vehicle has travelled far beyond city streets, stopping at 2,169 locations – from unions and upazilas to remote haors, chars and hill tracts – turning what began as a publicity tool into a moving listening post.

The messages range from deeply personal to plainly political.

Ten-year-old Rafa from Gazipur wrote of wanting a future where children can live safely.

A voter from Cumilla insisted on the right to cast a ballot freely, without violence.

A private-sector employee in Chattogram requested guaranteed leave on election day. Others complained of soaring food prices, weak education standards, and the need for minority security and religious harmony.

Several notes called for women's and children's rights to be strengthened, while some demanded swift justice in cases of sexual violence.

Memories of last July's unrest also surfaced, alongside appeals for structural reforms. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the outpouring, whether hopeful or critical, as a valuable expression of public trust and expectation.