The social media battlefield: Political campaigns in Bangladesh’s national elections

February 10, 2026

As Bangladesh prepares for its February 2026 parliamentary election, political campaigning has shifted significantly into the digital realm, with parties and candidates heavily utilizing platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to reach voters. This transition reflects the country's growing internet penetration, with 82. 8 million internet users and 64 million social media users among a population where mobile connections exceed 100 percent.

Who is affected

Bangladeshi voters, particularly the 39 percent of the population aged 13-34
Political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamat-e-Islami Party, National Citizen Party (NCP), and Awami League
Political leaders and candidates such as BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, and NCP Convener Nahid Islam
The Bangladesh Election Commission
Activists and politicians targeted by misinformation campaigns
Social media platform users (64 million social media users, 82.8 million internet users)

What action is being taken

Political parties and candidates are investing heavily in online outreach through videos, live streams, posts, campaign sites, songs, games, and interactive content
The Bangladesh Election Commission is enforcing regulations requiring candidates to submit official social media account details in advance
Fact-checking groups like Rumor Scanner and The Daily Star are identifying and documenting misinformation and AI-generated content
TikTok Bangladesh is operating an "Election Information Center" in partnership with the Election Commission to provide official election updates
Political actors are publicly addressing and accusing rival groups of spreading misinformation online

Why it matters

This digital transformation of political campaigning represents a fundamental shift in how democratic participation occurs in Bangladesh, where technological change is outpacing regulatory oversight. The proliferation of misinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, and bot-driven manipulation threatens electoral fairness and transparency, potentially distorting public perception and undermining voter decision-making. With nearly half the population online and younger demographics increasingly relying on social media for information rather than legacy media, the integrity of digital political discourse directly impacts democratic processes. Bangladesh's experience reflects a global pattern where social media has evolved from a communication tool into a political battleground, offering lessons for other democracies facing similar challenges in balancing technological innovation with electoral integrity.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices