61.1% want elections soon

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.

But, 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%.

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.