Voter Turnout Likely to Exceed 55pc

 

Voter Turnout Likely to Exceed 55pc, Says Touhid Hossain

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has expressed optimism that voter turnout in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, scheduled for 12 February, will exceed 55 percent.

He made the remarks on Sunday while responding to journalists’ questions at the closing session of an election-focused training workshop in Dhaka. The two-day programme was organised for members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) with support from the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI).

Asked whether the government could hold the election smoothly amid reports that Awami League leaders based in India were campaigning for a ‘No’ vote in the referendum, Touhid Hossain said many were advocating ‘No’ without fully understanding the issue. He reiterated that the government wants the ‘Yes’ vote to succeed.

He said the government has spent more than a year preparing reform proposals through various commissions and is committed to implementing them. On the referendum campaign, he noted that parties such as Jamaat, the NCP and several others were clearly supporting ‘Yes’. The BNP’s position, he said, had initially appeared mixed, with some local leaders favouring ‘No’ and some central leaders supporting ‘Yes’, though not strongly.

“Speaking as an individual, not as a minister or adviser, I believe the confusion has now been resolved, because the BNP chairman spoke clearly and firmly in favour of the ‘Yes’ vote yesterday,” Touhid Hossain said.

He added that voters are unlikely to make decisions based on detailed analysis of multiple conditions. “In reality, people vote along party lines. If my party supports ‘No’, I vote ‘No’. If my party supports ‘Yes’, I vote ‘Yes’. The three or four main parties are all in favour of ‘Yes’, so I do not think this will pose a major problem,” he said.

Acknowledging that some voters may abstain, the adviser said this happens in every election. Referring to the 1991 election, when turnout stood at 55 percent, he said he expects participation to be higher this time.

On concerns about a fragile election environment, Touhid Hossain said no election is entirely peaceful. “Even the 1991 election, which many remember as peaceful, had some unrest. There will be some unrest this time as well. We cannot allow that to deter us. The election will be held,” he said.

Addressing questions about diplomatic passports, he said neither he nor his wife had handed over theirs and that it is unusual for a foreign affairs adviser or minister to do so while in office.

On foreign involvement in the election discourse, Touhid Hossain said such engagement has become part of political culture. “Many in our society want diplomats to speak on these matters. So I cannot blame them; it has become a tradition,” he said, adding that the government is trying to address foreign concerns and will continue its efforts.

At the event, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller stressed that journalist safety is essential for a credible election, with particular emphasis on protecting women candidates and journalists in the digital space.

Other speakers included MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman, DCAB President AKM Moinuddin, and DCAB General Secretary Abu Hena Imrul Kayes.