Written by Md. Monzurul Alam
January 12, 2026, is undoubtedly a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s journey towards the restoration of democracy in its fullest form. After 16 long years, people of every class, race, religion, and caste exercised their right to vote in a genuinely contested election, reclaiming their civic rights. Out of the 180 million Bangladeshis, nearly 120 million were registered as voters, and about 75 million of them (around 60 percent) went to polling stations to vote. For the first time, expatriate voters also voted.
The January 12 elections were the 13th National Parliamentary Election, in which a total of 2,034 candidates contested the election. This figure is the second-highest after 2,574 candidates for the 7th parliamentary election in June 1996, when a total of 81 registered political parties had participated. For January 12 elections, as many as 50 political parties were in the run. The youth’s participation as candidates and voters remained encouraging. Bangladesh elected its First-ever youngest Member of Parliament, Mr. Hannan Masud, who is just 26. Women’s participation, however, remained grim and disappointing. Out of the 2,034 candidates, only 85 were women, and only seven of them returned to the parliament. Bangladesh Nationalist The Party (BNP) secured a clear majority by winning 212 seats and was able to form the government on its own. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the runner-up and main opposition party with a total of 77 seats in its bag.
For many reasons, this election remained a center of attention both within the country and internationally. For the interim government, organizing a fair, neutral, and free election was a huge challenge. The administration successfully managed its neutrality and the conduct of elections. The most important aspect of the election is the unprecedented peaceful conduct of elections with no incident of loss of life occurring on election day, making it the only violence-free election in Bangladesh’s history. More than a hundred people lost their lives during the 10th parliamentary elections.
Security concerns and uncertainty ran high among people before the election as the campaign period witnessed hostile and hateful behaviors of candidates. For some candidates, such hostility was used as a tool of campaign strategy. One of the biggest concerns during the election was how candidates and their supporters introduced themselves and attempted to damage the character of rival candidates on social media, which became the most powerful single tool impacting elections. Before the vote, some political parties invoked anti-women rhetoric to cash in on online social misogyny as a means to influence the election outcome.
Misinformation and disinformation continued during vote counting and the announcement of results as well. Every party tried to create confusion among the public by spreading false and baseless information on election results through social media.
However, despite all this, digital media itself helped prevent mis- and disinformation and protected the people from deception and confusion throughout the election cycle, neutralizing the impacts of negative campaigning. Despite various challenges, including its use for misinformation and disinformation, social media played an important role in making the election fair and participatory. Through social media, any violation of electoral conduct by candidates reached the authorities and the public quickly, and due to this public scrutiny, candidates behaved more cautiously during the election. As a result, the entire election process and its outcome gained national and international credence. The professional and neutral role played by law enforcement agencies also helped prevent violence.
This positive role of digital media was a direct outcome of digital literacy among youth in the country. In this election, the number of young voters was approximately 50 million, which is about 28 percent of the total voters. These young voters were highly aware, and this awareness was developed through participation in various social organizations and voluntary activities. Today, young people in Bangladesh are involved in different social organizations alongside their academic activities. Through these engagements, they remain aware of global issues and help raise awareness among others.
The young generation of Bangladesh stays connected through social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram. Through these platforms, they not only gain accurate information about different issues but also learn how misinformation, fake news, and disinformation spread on social media. At the same time, they have gained sufficient knowledge on how to protect themselves from such misinformation.
Over the past few years, various donor organizations have ensured youth participation through multiple development projects. In addition, several youth engagement programs have involved young people in activities related to democracy, civic rights, prevention of gender-based violence through information technology, and freedom of expression. These initiatives transformed their creative works from simple activism into more innovative forms of participation.
As a result, young people have developed an enthusiasm to participate in the development of society and have been able to move beyond traditional development thinking. Many young people implemented awareness-raising projects, and through these initiatives, people learned that voting for their preferred candidate is a fundamental right of every citizen, and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that right. This powerful campaign involved people from cities, towns, and rural areas, especially within the youth group known as Generation Z.
For a long time, the state has struggled to reach every citizen equally, whether due to limitations or negligence. Online platforms have helped the state overcome these limitations by delivering information directly to citizens. Although misinformation is also spread online, digital literacy significantly reduces the likelihood of citizens being misled.
For a long time, the state has struggled to reach every citizen equally, whether due to limitations or negligence. Online platforms have helped the state overcome these limitations by delivering information directly to citizens. Although misinformation is also spread online, digital literacy significantly reduces the likelihood of citizens being misled.
Young people are currently involved in various digital literacy initiatives and activities. Their efforts helped people remain peaceful and avoid consuming rumors and misinformation during the 13th national election.
The convenience of accessing information freely through online platforms and digital media helped people become more aware citizens. However, two groups remain highly vulnerable in digital spaces: the elderly and those under eighteen years of age. Therefore, the state should introduce creative programs to improve digital literacy among these groups.
The more people are involved in such programs, the more they will rely on verified information instead of rumors. Through this process, reducing online violence becomes much easier. It is notable that during this election, many AI-generated propaganda videos were circulated, and the group most affected by these deceptions was the elderly population.
In this election, 12 Members of Parliament represent the young generation, all of whom are under the age of 40. It is hoped that these young MPs will raise issues of digital literacy in parliament. At the same time, the state often fails to ensure digital access and opportunities for persons with disabilities due to various limitations. Hopefully, the new government will work for the 10% of the population living with different disabilities and implement special programs for them.
During this election, female candidates were frequently harassed on social media. From body shaming to character assassination, the level of abuse was alarming. The government must take strong measures to stop such campaigns and bring offenders under strict legal action. In recent years, many people have become victims of digital mob violence. If the country wants to move toward development, such digital violence must be strongly controlled. Ensuring this will increase women’s participation in future national and local elections and enable women to take a stronger role in decision-making processes.
Although there is no formal research yet, it can be hypothetically said that because of the online activities, campaigns, and engagement were much higher in this election, physical violence decreased significantly. However, cyberattacks emerged as a serious concern for both candidates and voters.
Finally, Bangladesh ranks 15th in the world in terms of internet users. Therefore, it is essential for the country to have strong cybersecurity laws and ensure their effective implementation. Without this, a large portion of people will lose interest in participating in digital platforms. Ensuring proper enforcement of laws and equal access to digital spaces for all citizens will allow the youth population to develop into a skilled human resource for the country.
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