In its 2018 country report on Bangladesh, the organisation specialising in detecting and analysing economic and political international trends, said that the Awami League is likely to come out a winner based on its solid economic performance of Bangladesh in the last few years and the patronage that it enjoyed at the local level.

It further stated that the BNP lost a significant number of voters after it decided to boycott the 2014 elections. 

Save AL, save Bangladesh: Awami League General Secretary

In his speech in December last year, Obaidul Quader, the Secretary General of the Awami League, came all guns blazing at the opponents, urging people to vote for his party to save Bangladesh from the anti-liberation war forces.

Taking a swipe at the BNP, he had said, "Joy Bangla was the slogan of the Liberation War. Those who did not believe in it do not believe in Bangladesh. Awami League has to win in the next election to save Bangladesh from the anti-Liberation War forces."

Will need to counter propaganda, capture media's attention: Joy

In a harsh criticism of its opponent, the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser and Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy said that the Awami League will have to be a lot more aggressive in its approach to negate false propaganda spread by the BNP.

"We have to dominate the media cycle," he told his party members.

"The BNP is a party of criminals, corrupt people and plunderers. The party is filled with murderers. We have to make people understand this," Joy said.

"People want the Awami League to stay in power. But BNP is running a propaganda campaign to destroy that mindset. To counter this, we will have to capture the media’s attention," he added.

BNP says it is expecting 80 percent of the votes

The AL has been in power since 2009 and look to remain on top for a third consecutive time, but the BNP sounds upbeat.

According to reports by local outlets, the main opposition party, founded by Ziaur Rahman, is expecting to win at least 80 percent of the 300 seats.

"The party, founded by Ziaur Rahman, is still in people’s hearts. I would like to urge the government to hold a credible and neutral election, and then you will see 80% of people will vote for BNP," party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said last month.

He also termed the present government as 'fascist' and urged the people to vote for a change.

Bangladesh may witness violence, warns EIU

Sounding alert, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said that with the BNP set for a defeat, Bangladesh might witness a spate of violence.  

It added that the inflow of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar may lead to an increase in Islamist extremism in Bangladesh.

Rohingya Image: UN

Awami League Images: twitter.com/albd1971