poll campaign

Jatiya Oikyafront, BNP turn to social media

BNP releases video clip of Mirza Fakhrul urging young voters to cast votes; video clip of Oikyafront urges youths to rise up in Dec 30 polls

Though late in the day, the opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront and its major partner, the BNP, have launched massive electioneering through social media, seeking votes for the ‘sheaf of paddy’ poll symbol ahead of the December 30 parliamentary elections. BNP leaders said they would use all the tools of social media, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, to carry out electioneering to reach the voters. In this way, they said, they can bypass what they described as the ruling party’s attacks and police harassment following the announcement of the electoral code of conduct.

Though the ruling Awami League (AL) launched its poll campaign from the first day of formal electioneering—when it received the poll symbol—on December 10, the Opposition could not carry out its poll campaign and put up posters because of obstacles in most of the 300 constituencies, they said.

The BNP Facebook page released a three-minute-long video clip of party secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with his message to young voters, urging them to vote in the upcoming general elections. “Vote for whoever you want to, I respect your mandate. But you must vote and show that you are a part of Bangladesh,” said Mirza Alamgir in the message. He alleged that the youth are not in the equation of the AL and the ruling party neglects the youth. “To them, you don’t matter,” he said.

Mirza Alamgir accused the AL of planning to create an environment of fear so that voters lose their interest to go to the voting centres. “You cast your vote on December 30 morning. You can prevent vote robbery. Democracy must be saved,” he added. He mentioned that he was now 70 years old, and added that at this age, he was chasing the same dream and was still full of hope. “Have you forgotten to dream?” he asked the young voters.

The BNP's election campaign cell prepared and released the video clip on the party’s Facebook page on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Jatiya Oikyafront also released a video clip urging the country’s youths to rise up in the December 30 elections. In the two-minute-long video message, top Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain said just one line, “Rise up Bangalis, your leader is ready.”

BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said their ultimate target to carry out an election campaign through the social media was to reach the maximum possible number of voters and convince them to cast their votes for the ‘sheaf of paddy’.

“We are going for digital electioneering using social media within the preview of the election code of conduct considering the prevailing situation at the field level, especially attacks on Opposition leaders and activists by the ruling party and police harassment against them. “Besides, there is no much time left for the elections. Our candidates cannot reach all the voters within this short spell of time.

Hence, the Oikyafront candidates are also using the social media to carry out their electioneering, seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy,” he said. He expects that the situation would improve with the deployment of the Army today and their candidates would also be able to carry out electioneering without any hindrance. Another senior BNP leader, preferring anonymity, said they would use all the pockets of social media, including YouTube and Facebook, to carry out electioneering in accordance with the electoral code of conduct.

He alleged that they tried to place advertisements on the TV channels but the authorities are not interested in this regard. The leader said they want to reach out internationally and contact every man inside the country with their poll symbol amidst what he said were repression and oppression. Meanwhile, Dr Mehedi Masud, the head of Jatiya Oikyafront’s media wing, said more video messages would be released within a couple of days seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy.

 

poll campaign

Jatiya Oikyafront, BNP turn to social media

BNP releases video clip of Mirza Fakhrul urging young voters to cast votes; video clip of Oikyafront urges youths to rise up in Dec 30 polls

Though late in the day, the opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront and its major partner, the BNP, have launched massive electioneering through social media, seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy poll symbol ahead of the December 30 parliamentary elections. BNP leaders said they would use all the tools of social media, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, to carry out electioneering to reach the voters. In this way, they said, they can bypass what they described as the ruling partys attacks and police harassment following the announcement of the electoral code of conduct. Though the ruling Awami League (AL) launched its poll campaign from the first day of formal electioneeringwhen it received the poll symbolon December 10, the Opposition could not carry out its poll campaign and put up posters because of obstacles in most of the 300 constituencies, they said. The BNP Facebook page released a three-minute-long video clip of party secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with his message to young voters, urging them to vote in the upcoming general elections. Vote for whoever you want to, I respect your mandate. But you must vote and show that you are a part of Bangladesh, said Mirza Alamgir in the message. He alleged that the youth are not in the equation of the AL and the ruling party neglects the youth. To them, you dont matter, he said. Mirza Alamgir accused the AL of planning to create an environment of fear so that voters lose their interest to go to the voting centres. You cast your vote on December 30 morning. You can prevent vote robbery. Democracy must be saved, he added. He mentioned that he was now 70 years old, and added that at this age, he was chasing the same dream and was still full of hope. Have you forgotten to dream? he asked the young voters. The BNPs election campaign cell prepared and released the video clip on the partys Facebook page on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Jatiya Oikyafront also released a video clip urging the countrys youths to rise up in the December 30 elections. In the two-minute-long video message, top Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain said just one line, Rise up Bangalis, your leader is ready. BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said their ultimate target to carry out an election campaign through the social media was to reach the maximum possible number of voters and convince them to cast their votes for the sheaf of paddy. We are going for digital electioneering using social media within the preview of the election code of conduct considering the prevailing situation at the field level, especially attacks on Opposition leaders and activists by the ruling party and police harassment against them. Besides, there is no much time left for the elections. Our candidates cannot reach all the voters within this short spell of time. Hence, the Oikyafront candidates are also using the social media to carry out their electioneering, seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy, he said. He expects that the situation would improve with the deployment of the Army today and their candidates would also be able to carry out electioneering without any hindrance. Another senior BNP leader, preferring anonymity, said they would use all the pockets of social media, including YouTube and Facebook, to carry out electioneering in accordance with the electoral code of conduct. He alleged that they tried to place advertisements on the TV channels but the authorities are not interested in this regard. The leader said they want to reach out internationally and contact every man inside the country with their poll symbol amidst what he said were repression and oppression. Meanwhile, Dr Mehedi Masud, the head of Jatiya Oikyafronts media wing, said more video messages would be released within a couple of days seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy.