Campaign monitoring: BNP rolling out centralised system

The BNP has intensified preparations for the upcoming election, rolling out a centralised system of instructions, monitoring and training aimed at tightening control over grassroots campaigning and candidate activities.

 At the heart of the operation is the party’s Election Steering Office in Gulshan, which has emerged as the command centre for election planning. 

 From the office, the BNP is coordinating training programmes for grassroots leaders, overseeing digital campaign strategies and gathering constituency-level information to guide decisions on messaging and tactics.

 BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s daughter Zaima Rahman has been regularly visiting the office and often spends several hours there, according to party sources.

 The party has rented a four-storey building at House 10C, Road 90 in Gulshan for that purpose. A research cell is also functioning from the premises, supporting campaign planning and analysis. 

 Party insiders said many of those working at the office are leaders and organisers affiliated with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and other associate bodies. 

 The Election Steering Committee is coordinating logistics and monitoring whether candidates are implementing party instructions at the constituency level. 

 A central monitoring team is tracking candidates’ activities, including voter engagement, compliance with party directives and use of digital platforms.

“The steering committee is closely watching how candidates are campaigning, how they are using social media and whether they are following central guidelines,” a senior organiser said on condition of anonymity.

 The BNP’s campaign strategy places strong emphasis on digital coordination. Party insiders said the digital operation includes an open hotline number, constituency-based committees, dedicated social media teams and legal aid committees to support candidates and activists. 

 The party’s IT cell is preparing responses to what it describes as misinformation campaigns by rival parties, while IT wing members have been deployed to district units to coordinate with booth committees, form WhatsApp groups and train local organisers.

 Campaign songs have also become a key tool for online mobilisation, party sources said, offering a simple way to spread messages and energise supporters through digital platforms.

Alongside digital efforts, the Election Steering Committee is providing technical and organisational support to candidates nationwide. 

 Multiple rounds of training and workshops, both online and in person, have focused on voter outreach, message discipline and campaign coordination. 

 Social media managers assigned to candidates have received separate training, and coordinators have been appointed to supervise online activities and maintain consistency in messaging. 

 Specialised sessions have also been organised for polling agents, underlining the party’s focus on election-day preparedness.

 A BNP official familiar with the process said the party is seeking to professionalise its campaign by clearly defining roles and responsibilities at every level. 

 The party has also launched a call centre to maintain quick contact with grassroots activists and voters, respond to complaints and address election-related issues.

 At the same time, the BNP is collecting detailed feedback from constituencies on rival campaign tactics and local voter concerns, including issues related to prices, agriculture, employment and public services. 

 Party leaders said this information is being fed back to the central office to shape issue-based campaigning and ensure candidates focus on local priorities rather than relying solely on national slogans.

 Azharul Islam Mannan, the BNP candidate for Narayanganj-3, said he has been receiving regular instructions and guidance to strengthen public engagement.

 “We are getting party instructions and advice to increase public engagement through local outreach,” he said, adding that the party has provided training both online and offline.

Mannan said workshops have been organised on working with the proposed family card programme and engaging with farmers, reflecting the party’s emphasis on social protection and rural issues.

 “Central leaders are keeping regular contact with us, and clear guidelines have been given for campaigning on social media,” he said, adding that a dedicated media cell has been formed to support candidates’ digital outreach. 

 Polling agents have also been identified for each centre, with training set to continue.

Rafiqul Islam Jamal, the BNP candidate for Jhalakathi-1, said the party has placed particular emphasis on grassroots-level training.

“In my constituency, the person handling my social media has been receiving training from the BNP,” he said, adding that potential polling agents have also been trained.

Faridpur-1 BNP candidate Khandaker Nasirul Islam said the party has already provided posters and other campaign materials, along with training for those managing his social media. 

 He added that polling agents have been instructed to strictly follow the election code of conduct.

 Several candidates said they have not yet raised concerns about neutrality on the ground but noted that any irregularities observed during campaigning are being reported to the central leadership for action.

 Party insiders said the level of centralised oversight marks a shift in the BNP’s election strategy, reflecting lessons from previous polls.

 “The leadership wants discipline, coordination and accountability,” a BNP strategist said. “Candidates know they are being monitored, and that creates pressure to follow instructions.”

 [Our Narayanganj, Faridpur and Pirojpur correspondents contributed to this report.]