Bangladesh Election Commission currently allow a candidate to spend a maximum of just 10 tk per voter. This clear limit signals a fundamental shift: the era of massive posters, blaring megaphones, and extravagant rallies is gradually coming to an end. Political campaigns are no longer won by sheer financial muscle; the key to victory now lies in sharp strategy, compelling messaging, and creative communication.
Digital platform has made this shift not only possible but highly effective. With minimal cost, limited time, and no intermediaries, a candidate can now reach thousands of voters directly through their mobile phones. Whether it is an SMS, a short video clip, or an audio message in the candidate own voice, these small but thoughtful initiatives can often have a greater impact than walls plastered with posters. They are environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, and, most importantly, capable of forging a personal connection with voters.
When voters hear the candidate own voice, it resonates differently. It is not about slogans—it is about sentiment. Digital communication has therefore moved beyond being an optional tool; it has become the most practical and powerful instrument in modern politics.
Digital Platforms: More Than Campaigning—A Space for Dialogue
Social media today is no luxury for political leaders—it is a necessity. Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok serve as direct bridges to the public.
The digital strategies used by Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 U.S. elections are surprisingly relevant to Bangladesh political landscape. Today young voters consume news and political information predominantly through Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. By leveraging these channels through live sessions, short videos, or SMS outreach a candidate can connect with more voters in less time and with fewer resources.
Localized content, short videos or audio messages in the regional dialect can create a personal bond with voters, amplifying the campaign effectiveness. A simple, heartfelt message explaining why a candidate is running, or how they perceive local challenges, can make voters feel heard. Often, the sincerity in a candidate voice can influence decisions more than polished speeches ever could.
Digital surveys and online forms are equally valuable in Bangladesh. Simple polls via SMS, Facebook, or messaging apps allow voters to share their opinions and concerns. Such participatory engagement ensures that voters feel a candidate is not just talking at them, but listening to them. Leaders who harness this feedback often earn higher trust and broader support.
Simplicity and Sincerity: The Cornerstones of Effective Politics
Complex rhetoric often alienates voters. People want to hear about experiences that resonate with their own lives. In New York recent mayoral race, candidate Zohran Mamdani focused on storytelling rather than abstract policy debates, narrating the struggles of workers, students, and families. This approach allowed voters to see themselves in his stories, creating genuine emotional connection.
Digital platforms are ideal for such storytelling. A candidate can post a two-minute video on Facebook or YouTube illustrating a farmer struggles with irrigation costs or market access. Likewise, youth unemployment can be addressed not through long speeches but through a short reel showing a recent graduate striving to find opportunities and the policies that could help.
Live videos and stories amplify this effect. When a candidate speaks candidly into their phone, saying “I hear your concerns,” the message feels authentic and far more trustworthy than a scripted poster or advertisement. Digital platforms thus offer both immediacy and intimacy—a combination impossible in traditional campaigning.
Question-and-Answer Sessions: Defining Modern Leadership
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau town hall meetings exemplify the power of dialogue. Citizens could ask questions openly, and the government responded responsibly, building trust through transparency.
Bangladesh can adopt similar digital town halls. Even if voters cannot attend physically due to time or distance constraints, live streams break these barriers. Candidates can address local issues, ongoing development projects, and service updates while taking questions from viewers in real time. This participatory model reinforces accountability and ensures citizens feel heard—a hallmark of modern political engagement.
Humanity Matters: Compassion Through Digital Media
Sometimes, empathy speaks louder than speeches. After the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern showed solidarity with the Muslim community. Her presence, words, and digital messages resonated globally, demonstrating that authentic compassion transcends physical spaces.
In Bangladesh, during floods, fires, or accidents, immediate digital updates—via Facebook Live, short videos, or audio messages—can reassure citizens. The key is authenticity: digital presence should serve people, not the camera. Here, digital media becomes a conduit for empathy, not mere display.
By communicating in simple language with genuine emotion, leaders can use digital platforms to ensure their messages leave a lasting imprint—not just on paper or screens, but in people hearts. In today politics, understanding and leveraging this power separates transient politicians from enduring leaders.
H. M. Imam Hasan
Deputy Manager (Public Relations), Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS)
The author writes on media, politics, and social issues and specializes in strategic communication and public relations.
Bangladesh has been jolted repeatedly in recent days—at least five earthquakes in just three days—leaving a lingering sense of unease across the country. While these tremors caused no major damage, their frequency is unsettling. They signal a deeper truth that we can no longer afford to ignore: the threat of a major earthquake in Bangladesh is real, and our current level of preparedness is dangerously inadequate.
Sitting at the intersection of the Indian, Eurasian and Burmese tectonic plates, Bangladesh has always been seismically vulnerable. The catastrophic Assam Earthquake of 1897 and the 1950 Tibet-Assam quake loom large in the region history. Yet, despite repeated geological reminders, the country urban growth and infrastructural expansion have largely outpaced safety measures. Dhaka, in particular—one of the most densely populated megacities in the world—is perilously unprepared.
The recent tremors revealed how fragile our context truly is. Buildings lacking seismic resistance, haphazard construction, narrow exits, congested lanes, and aging lifeline infrastructure place millions at substantial risk. Experts have repeatedly warned that a major quake—especially one near or under Dhaka—could produce devastation surpassing what Haiti endured in 2010.
Having worked in journalism and public relations, covering issues ranging from urban risks to crisis communication, I have seen how information gaps and panic can worsen disaster outcomes. Earthquakes are, by nature, sudden. But the chaos that follows often stems from a communication failure, not the tremor itself.
This is where media—especially digital media—plays a decisive role. Today, Bangladeshis turn to Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and online portals faster than television or radio. During the recent tremors, social platforms overflowed with unverified predictions, recycled foreign disaster footage, and sensational claims about upcoming quakes. In the fog of confusion, misinformation thrived.
If the nation is to handle earthquakes responsibly, it must address the digital information sphere. Government agencies and scientific bodies need to adopt real-time communication strategies—not occasionally, but systematically. Public advisories must be concise, credible, and consistent across platforms. Every major digital channel, from social media pages to SMS alerts, should become a conduit for accurate information and practical guidance. Countries such as Japan, Turkey and Indonesia have demonstrated that timely, coordinated communication saves lives. Bangladesh should follow suit.
Yet communication alone is not enough. The physical infrastructure of the country demands urgent attention. Studies regularly highlight that a vast majority of buildings in Dhaka do not meet seismic standards. Many structures were built without proper supervision. Others have weakened over time, worsened by unauthorized vertical expansion and unchecked modifications. Retrofitting must become a national priority—not only for high-rises and commercial buildings but also for schools, hospitals and factories where large groups gather.
Public awareness must evolve from occasional concern to routine practice. When the last tremor struck, many people sprinted down staircases, used elevators or gathered under electric lines, actions that could have turned a mild quake into a deadly incident.
Earthquake readiness must become part of daily civic culture. Drills should be conducted in offices, educational institutions and residential complexes. Communities can form volunteer teams trained to guide people during emergencies, following a model similar to the cyclone preparedness programmes that transformed coastal resilience.
Bangladesh must also invest in scientific capability. Institutions such as BUET, the Geological Survey of Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department require modern equipment, hazard maps and expanded research infrastructure. Cross-border coordination with India and Myanmar is equally essential, as seismic activity in one region rapidly affects the others. Data-sharing and joint early-warning protocols would significantly improve detection and preparation.
The digital landscape deserves special mention. With more than 130 million internet users, Bangladesh online community is both a strength and a potential vulnerability. Instead of allowing rumours to spread unchecked, authorities and media houses can use short videos, infographics, livestreams and community-targeted content to strengthen public understanding. Clear guidance—how to “Drop, Cover, Hold On,” how to inspect a building after a tremor, where local emergency assembly points are located—must circulate widely and regularly.
Earthquakes are unpredictable, but preparedness is not. Bangladesh has already shown its capacity for resilience. Cyclone-related deaths have declined dramatically over the decades due to early warning systems, community awareness, and improved shelters. A similar national commitment can prevent large-scale tragedy when the ground moves again.
The tremors felt very recently were nature reminder, not nature wrath. They are an early signal urging the nation to reassess its priorities. The next quake could strike tomorrow or years later—but the question is whether Bangladesh will be ready.
Preparedness is not merely a responsibility of scientists, engineers or government agencies. It is a collective duty—one owed to every family in a crowded apartment block, every student in a classroom, every worker in a factory, and every patient in a hospital. The ground will shake again. Our readiness must not.
H. M. Imam Hasan
Deputy Manager, Public Relations,
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).
In the rapidly moving global society, the role of media is undeniable in disseminating information, fostering public understanding, and reflecting on the significance of national observances and key programs. Bangladesh officially observes 79 national and 39 international days throughout the year.
While the government and state heads are commendable for informing the public about the importance of these days through newspaper supplements, a critical question remains: what percentage of the population genuinely grasps the concepts behind government initiatives from this coverage?
The longevity and success of any major government initiative depend on effective public engagement. Programs like deworming campaigns, handwashing initiatives, and anti-smoking drives—and currently, the crucial Typhoid Vaccination Program—require deep public awareness to be effective. The current campaign, providing free typhoid conjugate (TCV) vaccines to children, began on October 12th and runs through November 13th, supported by UNICEF, GAVI-The Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Recent discussions in Dhaka highlighted the urgency of this program. Dr. Firdausi Qadri, a Senior Scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), shared research indicating that 1,310 people in Bangladesh contract typhoid daily, with 22 deaths, 15 of whom are children. Given that typhoid is primarily spread through contaminated water and food, offering the free vaccine is considered highly essential.
Professor Md. Saidur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, addressed public skepticism, stating that the free vaccine being administered to children is safe, effective, and of high quality, a fact proven by multiple studies. The Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr. Md. Abu Jafor, urged the public to resist rumors and misinformation about the vaccine. Dr. Riyad Mahmud of UNICEF Bangladesh also requested media personnel to continue positive reporting to counter such rumors. Health professionals believe that including the typhoid vaccine in school-level syllabi is a vital, time-bound necessity.
However, multiple anonymous sources have expressed concerns about the execution of awareness campaigns. Several individuals questioned the role of Health Education Officers at the district level, noting their reduced visibility among the public.
One media professional reported that upazila-level advocacy meetings are often perfunctory, with about $90\%$ of local media personnel remaining uninformed about government health programs. For crucial public health initiatives to succeed, a more proactive role from both the local health administration and the media is clearly needed.