Only 27% of citizens feel free to voice political opinions: BBS survey

Only 27.24% of citizens believe they can express their opinions on government activities within the country's political system, according to a recent survey conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The data was published today (19 June) as part of the Citizen Perception Survey (CPS). The nationwide survey was carried out in February 2025, covering all 64 districts.

The survey found no significant difference between urban and rural respondents, with 27.87% urban people and 26.94% rural people saying they can express their opinions on political matters to influence the country's politics.

However, a gender gap was highlighted with around 31.86% of men felt they could express their views on government activities, compared to only 23.02% of women.

Additionally, only 21.19% of citizens believe they can influence political processes. Here again, 26.55% of men were more likely than 17.81% of women to feel they had such influence.

Altaf Parvez, a researcher of politics and history, said, even under the interim government, many do not feel safe or comfortable speaking out on political or state affairs in public spaces.

"While the previous Hasina administration imposed various restrictions and controls, the current environment is shaped by a different threat: mob justice disguised as public outrage," he said.

Parvez added that this new form of intimidation is silencing voices just as effectively. At the same time, public trust in state institutions remains absent. Citizens are still reluctant to engage in political discussions, largely because formal complaints rarely lead to any resolution.

"This failure to deliver justice has bred widespread disinterest and disillusionment," he said.

Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton told TBS that 15 years of authoritarian rule left people so deeply suppressed that they almost forgot how to express political opinions freely. 

He noted that a large portion of the population remains politically unaware or disengaged. "Those who did think politically over the past 15 years were constantly under pressure. That psychological burden hasn't disappeared overnight – it still influences how people behave."

However, he expressed optimism that this mindset can gradually shift – if Bangladesh is led by a truly representative, democratically elected government.

However, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman cautioned against drawing firm conclusions, noting that the survey data spans a highly uneven political period. 

"It covers everything from the brutal suppression of dissent before the July movement to the historic opportunity for democratic transition that followed. Any interpretation must account for that dramatic shift in context," he said.

The survey's data was collected through interviews with 831,807 respondents aged 18 and above, drawn from 45,868 enumeration areas across 1,920 Primary Sampling Units (PSUs).

The survey assessed citizens' views and experiences in six key areas under SDG 16: safety, good governance, quality of public services, corruption, access to justice, and discrimination. The questionnaire was based on indicators set by the United Nations for monitoring progress on SDG 16.