In another focus group discussion, an urban woman from Khulna said, “If I say anything about political issues now, I am afraid that I might be killed.” Similarly, a village woman in Mymensingh said that the Awami League is now in power. If BNP tries to come out and campaign, they are attacked.
It is clear that not everyone in the survey spoke openly out of fear. They may not have been able to trust the survey takers.
Thus many questions may arise about the survey, and are already being raised, at least on social media. It is extraordinary that the majority of people across the survey have expressed their dissatisfaction with the country’s politics, economy, democracy and future of the country. At the same time, 63 percent people approved or supported the activities of the opposition. 69 percent were against elections under a one-party government, of which 44 percent wanted elections under a caretaker government and 25 percent wanted elections under an all-party government.
Also, 92 per cent people were eager to vote, indicating that the people of the country are eagerly waiting for a credible election. Possibly the view was that the last two elections under the Awami League were not credible – 55 percent of those who said they would not vote in the next elections said their votes had been cast by others.
It was also clear from the focus group discussions that people are not interested in elections without the participation of the opposition. A rural youth from Chattogram said, “If there is no opposition party, who will I vote for?” A village woman from Mymensingh said that the opposition should send a message that there is someone who can stand against the government.