VOA Survey on Bangladesh: 61.1% want elections soon, 65.9% prefer reforms first

A recent nationwide survey conducted by VOA Bangla reveals that 61.1% of Bangladeshis believe the next general election should be held within a year.

However, a larger segment of the population (65.9%) advocates for completing all necessary reforms before proceeding with the election, indicating significant public support for thorough preparation over expediency.

The survey, carried out by ORG-Quest Research Limited under VOA Bangla's editorial guidance, gathered responses from 1,000 individuals aged 18 and above across Bangladesh's eight divisions.

Using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, participants were selected via random digit dialling (RDD), ensuring a representative sample. The survey, conducted between 13 and 27 October, has a margin of error of 3.1%.

Diverse opinions on election timing

While a majority prefer elections within a year, 31.9% of respondents favour holding elections after only urgent electoral reforms are implemented.

Meanwhile, 18.7% support elections within two to three years, and 8.6% believe polls should occur within 18 months. A minority of 5.8% want the elections postponed for four years or more.

Interestingly, 4.6% of respondents expressed uncertainty about election timing, while 1.1% declined to answer.

The survey highlighted slight variations in preferences between urban and rural populations, with 60.4% of urban respondents and 61.4% of rural participants supporting elections within a year. Gender differences were also evident, as 65% of women preferred elections within a year compared to 57.3% of men.

Support for comprehensive reforms

A vast majority (65.9%) of respondents believe all necessary reforms identified by the interim government should be completed before the election. Among these reforms, key areas of focus include:

Electoral Commission: Supported by 96.5% of respondents.

Police Reforms: Supported by 92.3%.

Judicial Reforms: Supported by 95.3%.

Economic Sector Reforms: Backed by 96.4%.

Constitutional Reforms: Favoured by 92.5%.

Only 31.9% of respondents supported elections after addressing urgent election-related reforms.

Perception of the interim government's performance

The survey assessed public perception of the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, which took office on 8 August following the fall of the Awami League government. A majority (58.4%) believe the interim government is governing better than its predecessor, while 40.5% think it is performing either worse or similarly.

Among those critical of the interim government, 20.4% consider its governance worse, while 20.1% view it as similar to the Awami League administration.

Urban residents (61.9%) and men (62%) were more likely to rate the interim government's performance favourably than their rural (57.3%) and female (54.8%) counterparts.

Public safety and law enforcement

Regarding law and order, 63.2% of respondents opined that the interim government is managing security better than the Awami League did. However, opinions on personal safety were evenly divided: 49.8% felt safer under the interim government, while 49.9% believed their safety had either declined or remained the same.

The survey also found that 23% felt safer during the Awami League's tenure, and 26.9% reported no change in their sense of security between the two administrations.

Call for election roadmap

The absence of a clear election roadmap has been a contentious issue. While political parties, civil society, and international stakeholders have urged the government to announce a timeline, the interim administration has prioritised reforms, emphasising their necessity for democratic consolidation.

In a speech on 17 November marking the administration's 100 days in office, Dr Yunus hinted that an election roadmap might follow once critical reforms are finalised. However, he acknowledged that delays might occur if essential changes require additional time.

The political climate remains charged, with public opinion divided on balancing reform and election timelines. As debates intensify, the survey underscores the urgency of aligning electoral processes with public expectations and democratic integrity.

Upcoming reports

VOA Bangla plans to release further detailed findings from the survey in subsequent reports, shedding more light on public attitudes toward governance, reforms, and elections in Bangladesh.