Key Takeaways from the Latest IRI Survey
Until 2019, people in the country used to say the country was on the right track. After 2020, there has been a sharp decline. Recently, 53% of people now say the country is running well again.
- Until 2019, people in the country used to say the country was on the right track. After 2020, there has been a sharp decline. Recently, 53% of people now say the country is running well again.
2. Among those who say the country is doing well, the majority say their economic condition has improved, law and order has improved, and food items are readily available.
3. Fully 80% of people in the country are optimistic about the country’s future. This is a huge deal.
4. Corruption, law and order, political instability, price hike of essentials, and lack of jobs are the biggest problems in the country. The same issues regularly appear in other surveys as well.
5. 72% of people think the state of democracy in the country is good -- the highest in the last 8 years.
6. As in every previous survey by the same organization, this time too, the military is the most trusted institution among the people. After that come the student movement and the media. The institutions with the least trust are Hizb ut-Tahrir, police, Election Commission, and Hefazat-e-Islam.
- 53% of people like Jamaat (very much or somewhat), and 51% like BNP (very much or somewhat). Only 6% like NCP very much, but 32% like NCP somewhat. Although fewer people like NCP “very much” compared to BNP and Jamaat, the fact that many people like it “somewhat” is an interesting finding.
- Even now, 11% of people like Awami League very much and 14% like it somewhat.
- If an election were held today:
- 33% would vote for BNP
- 29% would vote for Jamaat
- 7% still don’t know, 11% refused to say.
This survey was conducted after the DUCSU election, and both “don’t know” and “refuse to say” responses have decreased.
BNP would win if an election were held right now, but the gap with Jamaat has narrowed.
Only 4% said they would not vote at all.
In terms of alliances, a possible BNP-led alliance is ahead of a possible Jamaat-led alliance.
- The biggest demands for the new government are cracking down on corruption and improving law and order. Next comes “reforms.”
- The biggest reforms people want are: free and fair elections, cracking down on corruption, followed by other governmental reforms.
11. Fully 72% of people want elections by the due date of February 2026, of which 41% want elections right now.
12. Among foreign countries, Russia, China, and Pakistan are the top three most favored countries by Bangladeshis. The most disliked country is India, followed by the United States.
13. 63% of people still get their news from television, 19% get news from Facebook.
14. Somoy TV and Jamuna TV are the most preferred news channels.
Link to the Full Survey.
Shafquat Rabbee Anik is a political commentator
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