For the first time in decades, the image that once defined the hometown of Bangladesh's ousted premier Sheikh Hasina during elections, her Awami League party's "boat" symbol, is absent. Awami League voters shifting to BNP, JamaatA survey of various voters published this month found that nearly half of former Awami League voters now prefer the BNP, the frontrunner in most opinion polls, followed by roughly 30% who favour Jamaat. In Gopalganj, families of Awami League activists say the transition away from Hasina has come at a high personal cost. Several Awami League activists and members of minority communities said they are now living in fear. "This time, I want to believe things will be different.”What Awami League voters do next may shape the outcome, said political analyst Asif Shahan, a professor at the University of Dhaka.

Source: The Telegraph February 06, 2026 13:10 UTC