As the 11th parliamentary election nears, the BNP has stepped up efforts on the internet for its Vision 2030 campaign.
In May last year, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in jail for corruption, outlined her party's Vision 2030, pledging to bring constitutional reforms to create a balance of power as well as reforming the judiciary and adding diversity to political opinion.
Sources in the BNP said that the party’s research arm ‘Bangladesh Nationalist Research Centre’ is leading the efforts.
Led by BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and its Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid, a 20-member is working full time.
“Not only the Vision, update on the cases against Khaleda Zia are also broadcasted on all online platform for the party men,” he said.
Speaking on BNP’s engagement in virtual platform, Shama Obaid said, “All political parties must use social media to keep pace with the modern world as it’s the largest communication platform now.”
The BNP chairperson’s office said that the campaigns are being conducted through accounts in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The social media campaign features electoral pledges like start-up funds, overtime allowance for police and appointment of an ombudsman for transparency and accountability in the administration.
“Initiated by the Centre, publicity of the Vision 2030 began with the help of modern technology. It’s also being used to update activists and supporters about party chief’s cases in the court,” BNP Chairperson's Press Wing Member Shairul Kabir Khan told Bangla Tribune.
BNP leaders said they have opted for the use of social media to campaign for the upcoming national election.
“BNP is a party which believes in the election, so it’s using several media to portray its electoral pledges to the people and the social media is a major tool as it effectively covers a wider audience,” BNP Public Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie told Bangla Tribune.