Surveys reveal undecided voters surge, optimism for fair polls

Nearly half of the country's voters remain undecided ahead of the next national election, even as a majority express confidence that the polls will be free and fair, according to two new surveys by the Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and civic platform Voice for Reform.

The Pulse Survey 3 found that 48.5% of respondents have yet to decide whom to support—up sharply from 38% in October 2024, marking a 10.5 percentage point rise in just eight months. Another 14.4% declined to disclose a preference, and 1.7% said they would not vote.

Among those declaring party support, 12% back the BNP, 10.4% Jamaat-e-Islami, and 2.8% the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP). Compared to last October, BNP and Jamaat saw slight declines in support, while NCP gained marginally. 

Support for the then ruling Awami League slipped from 8.9% to 7.3%, while backing for the Jatiya Party and other Islamist parties also fell. When asked which party they believed would win locally, 38% named BNP, 13% Jamaat, 1% NCP, and 7% Awami League.

A separate Public Opinion, Experiences, and Expectations survey found that 70% of respondents believe the upcoming election will be free, fair, and impartial, while 15% doubt its credibility. On timing, 51% supported holding polls after thorough reforms, 17% after urgent reforms, and 32% by December 2025. About 12% preferred February 2026, 11% June 2026, and 25% December 2026 or later.

The study also showed declining political optimism, with the share of citizens positive about the country’s future dropping from 71% in August 2024 to 42% in July 2025. Still, 55% want the election held within the interim government’s original timeline—by June 2026.

Both surveys were presented Monday at the National Archives Auditorium in Dhaka by BIGD Fellow of Practice Syeda Salina Aziz. They drew on telephone interviews with 5,489 men and women from rural (73%) and urban (27%) areas across all 64 districts between July 1–20, 2025.