A recent survey has found that 68.2 percent of women and 45.9 percent of men in Bangladesh are unaware of the Proportional Representation (PR) system of the upper house. The survey also shows that rural citizens have significantly lower awareness of the system compared to urban residents.
The findings were released by Innovision Consulting at a roundtable discussion titled “The Impact of Social Context and Diversity on Voters’ Decisions,” held on Monday at the BDBL building in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. The event was moderated by Fahim Mashrur, co-convener of Voice for Reform, with participation from academics and political analysts.
According to the People’s Election Pulse Survey 2024, 27.1 percent of women and 16.3 percent of men said they do not support the PR system, while indecision was highest among Gen Z voters. The panelists emphasized the need to raise awareness about the PR system and discussed voter distrust in the electoral process.
The survey results indicate that voters across the country expect a fair and transparent election, with Generation Z, women, and minority voters likely to play a decisive role.
In terms of political preference, the survey found that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leads in six divisions, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Dhaka, and Chittagong. Jamaat-e-Islami leads in Rangpur, while the Awami League leads in Barisal. Overall, BNP ranks first, followed by Jamaat, Awami League, and National Citizen Party (NCP).
The survey was conducted in 64 districts across the country, among 10,413 adult voters, between September 2 and 15, 2024. About 69.5 percent of respondents were rural residents and 30.5 percent urban; 54.2 percent were male, 45.4 percent female, and 0.4 percent third gender. The data collection was jointly supported by Brain and Voice for Reform.
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