BNP Shifts Campaign Beyond Dhaka

With the thirteenth Jatiya Sangsad election entering its decisive phase, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has cancelled its previously scheduled central rally in Dhaka on Sunday, 8 February, and unveiled a revised campaign plan focused on intensified outreach in northern and southern districts. The decision was confirmed on Friday morning, 6 February, at a press briefing held at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan by Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. As a result, what had been billed as the party’s final mass rally in the capital before polling day has been put on hold.

Mr Rizvi explained that although a central programme had been announced on Thursday, the party’s policy-making forum subsequently reviewed the campaign calendar and opted to redirect senior leadership to regional constituencies. On Sunday, the party’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, is expected to appear in person at a series of rallies across selected northern and southern electoral areas. The strategic recalibration reflects a deliberate shift from symbolic, capital-centric mobilisation towards direct voter engagement at the grassroots, where party leaders believe marginal gains could prove decisive.

BNP sources indicate that recent assessments showed uneven campaign momentum outside Dhaka, with organisational networks in several districts requiring renewed impetus. While large rallies in the capital are traditionally used to project organisational strength and media visibility, the party leadership has concluded that face-to-face campaigning in competitive constituencies offers greater electoral returns in the final stretch. Accordingly, district-level rallies, roadside meetings and neighbourhood gatherings will replace the single, high-profile Dhaka event.

The abrupt change comes days after BNP leaders publicly announced, on 5 February, plans for a “grand rally” on the streets of Dhaka as part of their closing campaign. Preparations had begun in earnest, with party activists mobilised and logistical arrangements under way. However, party officials now argue that maintaining a national balance in campaign deployment—and ensuring the presence of senior figures at key district rallies—outweighs the benefits of concentrating resources in the capital.

Political analysts view the move as tactically significant. In closely contested elections, the presence of top leadership in swing districts can galvanise local organisers, sharpen message discipline and lend credibility to campaign pledges. The BNP’s leadership believes that northern and southern districts, where voter turnout and allegiance can fluctuate, warrant concentrated attention at this stage. Party strategists also note that Dhaka-based campaigning tends to reach already committed supporters, whereas outreach beyond the capital may persuade undecided voters.

Despite the cancellation of the central rally, BNP organisers in Dhaka will continue ward-level canvassing, leaflet distribution and small-group meetings. The party’s media and communications teams are expected to coordinate messaging across districts to ensure consistency in campaign themes, including governance reform, economic pressures and local development priorities.

Summary of the Revised Campaign Plan

Overall, the BNP’s decision to pivot away from a capital-centric spectacle towards regionally dispersed campaigning underscores a pragmatic reading of electoral dynamics in the final days before voting. By prioritising personal engagement in key districts, the party hopes to consolidate its voter base, energise local structures and convert organisational effort into measurable electoral gains.