Gopalganj: Voters in Gopalganj the hometown of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina are preparing for a national election unlike any they have known before as her long dominant party is missing from the ballot.
For decades the area was considered a stronghold of the Awami League with many voters choosing the party’s familiar boat symbol without hesitation. This time that symbol is absent following the party’s exclusion from the February 12 general election under the interim administration.
The vote will take place under a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus which came to power after widespread protests and violence in 2024 forced Hasina from office. Authorities say the aim is to restore public trust in the electoral process after years of disputed polls.
In Gopalganj the change has left many voters uncertain. Some longtime Awami League supporters say they feel confused or disappointed and are unsure whether to vote at all. Others say they may support opposition parties for the first time or choose independent candidates.
Local residents say politics in the area has always been deeply tied to loyalty to Hasina and her family making the coming vote emotionally difficult for many. At the same time younger voters say they are more focused on jobs prices and security than party symbols.
Across Bangladesh the election is seen as a turning point with major parties reshaping alliances and new groups trying to win public support. Analysts say turnout in traditional strongholds like Gopalganj will be closely watched as a measure of how deeply the political shift has affected ordinary voters.
As election day approaches voters in Hasina’s hometown are weighing unfamiliar choices in what could be one of the most significant elections in the country’s recent history.