New Delhi: The scales are tilting in favour of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with opinion polls now predicting a landslide victory in the upcoming Bangladesh elections, scheduled for February 12.
Last month, the polls suggested a close fight between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, the BNP has surged past the Jamaat with 70 per cent of the people, saying they would vote for the party headed by the late Khaleda Zia.
The Jamaat only has 19 per cent of the people’s support, and this is a clear indicator that the margins are huge.
The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) has the support of 2.9 per cent of the population, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Eminence Associates for Social Development (EASD).
Poll observers said that multiple factors have worked in favour of the BNP. The BNP is riding on the sympathy wave of the people due to the death of their leader, Khaleda Zia.
Furthermore, the return of her son, Tarique Rahman, has bolstered the party cadres who are now full-time on the field working hard for their party.
More importantly, the people of Bangladesh seem to be rejecting the Jamaat owing to the never-ending violence that has engulfed the nation.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that the people are aware that if a Jamaat is in power, it would never be an independent country, as the ISI would be completely in control.
Furthermore, the ordinary Bangladeshi seeks prosperity, not a country driven by religion. The last thing that they want is an Iran-style country, and the people realise that if an ISI-backed Jamaat is in power, then they would sign up for just that, the official noted.
The opinion poll also noted that many of Sheikh Hasina’s supporters have abandoned the Awami League and are now backing the BNP.
The Awami League has been banned from contesting the elections, and this is a factor that may have contributed to the shift, the experts said.
According to the survey, 60 per cent of the Awami League supporters now say that they would vote for the BNP. Twenty-five per cent of the Awami League supporters said that they would side with the Jamaat.
The poll said that the Jatiya Party enjoys the support of just 1.4 per cent.
According to the poll, the BNP is very popular among women, and 71 per cent of them say that they will vote for the party. The BNP continues to dominate in Rajshahi and Chattogram, and is expected to get 70 per cent of the votes here.
The survey, conducted between December 20 and January 1, also stated that 77 per cent of the people are confident that the BNP would come to power.
According to officials, the point to be taken into consideration was that the Jamaat is rapidly losing grip on the country.
The politics of religion and the blind backing of the ISI have not gone in its favour. When its student wing, the Islamic Chhatra Shibir, swept the university elections, many felt that the result would be the same in the national polls as well.
However, the manner in which the events have unfolded only suggests that the Jamaat has made a mess out of the country.
Another official said that the Jamaat fell into the ISI trap and, by following its script, Bangladesh turned out to be a mess.
The official also added that a majority of Bangladeshis want a peaceful nation governed by the Constitution, and not Sharia Law.
India would hope for a BNP government in the neighbouring country. Following the death of Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a heartfelt note that was delivered to Rahman by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
New Delhi has been in talks with many within the BNP leadership, and if this party comes to power, there would be a working relationship between the two countries, experts added.
Intelligence Bureau officials said that the BNP being so far ahead is a good sign. However, they also warn that the violence could escalate, and the Jamaat and ISI combination would want the polls to be postponed.
Both are trying to create an atmosphere of fear and chaos, so that the postponement of the elections could be justified under the pretext that the atmosphere is not conducive, officials said.
In the past 18 days, there has been mindless violence that led to the targeted killings of 6 Hindus. In the last 24 hours, two Hindu men were murdered by radical elements. Intelligence agencies warn that such incidents could only increase, and the violence would escalate ahead of the elections.
The borders would need to be on high alert as there is every chance that the ISI would try to ensure that the madness spills over into India, an Intelligence Bureau official said.
IANS
Trump warns Iran, sends team for talks
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Iran of breaching a ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of sweeping retaliation, even as he announced fresh negotiations in...
USS Rushmore conducts blockade operations in Arabian Sea: Central Command
Washington: The US Central Command has said that the dock landing ship USS Rushmore is conducting blockade operations in the Arabian Sea. Earlier Saturday (local time), it was said on...
Iran says ‘progress’ in US talks, but ‘far from final discussion’
Tehran: Iran has indicated that there has been "progress" in its ongoing discussions with the United States, though it stressed that a final agreement is still a long way off,...
Lebanese president announces shift to negotiating permanent agreements after ceasefire phase
Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Lebanon has entered a new phase focused on negotiating permanent agreements to safeguard the rights of its people, the unity of its territory,...
Iran says transferring enriched uranium to US never an option
Tehran: Iran will not transfer its enriched uranium to a foreign country, and sending it to the United States has never been under consideration, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei...
US President made 7 claims, all false: Iran warns of closing Hormuz amid naval blockade
Tehran: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf has warned US President Donald Trump that Tehran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues its naval blockade....
Women’s reservation bid falters as Constitutional Amendment bill falls short in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed a dramatic defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which had sought to expand the number of seats in the house and...
Trump announces ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
New York: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon aimed at bringing a temporary cooling-off along another front linked to the Iran conflict. He...
Delimitation will turn out to be political demonetisation, don’t do it: Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday warned in the Lok Sabha that the proposed delimitation exercise could amount to "political demonetisation," cautioning against linking it with women’s reservation...
US warns strikes on Iran energy infrastructure if deal is not reached
Washington: The United States on Thursday warned Iran that its energy infrastructure could be targetted if it fails to reach a deal, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth saying American forces...
Women Reservation Bill will help to change ‘disha and dasha’ of nation: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the Women Reservation Bill will help change the “disha and dasha” (direction and condition) of the country’s politics by involving...
Iran rules out compromise on nuclear enrichment rights, slams US ‘warmongering’ in Hormuz
Tehran: Iran will not compromise on its nuclear enrichment rights, said the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that its entitlement to nuclear energy is firmly grounded in international...
