Political parties are starting to formally utilise the power of social media such as Facebook and Twitter and their own mobile applications for campaigns. The ruling party, Awami League (AL), already has a group called “Vote for Boat” to generate popularity before the elections. On May 7, the Awami League organised a three-day workshop on how to use social media called “Lawmaker’s role through social media” for AL lawmakers at the office of the party president in Dhanmondi. Information and Research Secretary of Awami League, Afzal Hossain, said: “Nowadays, social media platforms are very popular among the younger generation. They are also safe and popular among the youth.”How social media became a political tool2016 was the year that the power of political campaigns on social media was finally understood.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 27, 2017 09:22 UTC