Investigating Local Political Dynamics: A Case Study of the 2008 National Election in Bogura, Bangladesh

This study intends to understand the local level politics in terms of changing political beliefs among the participants in the larger context of politics in Bogura, a northern district of Bangladesh. In particular, the research tries to investigate the voting behaviour during the national election of 2008 in Bogura. Though there are some studies about the national-level politics but still there is a dearth of researchers in understanding the local political dynamics. The study of a local-level election helps us engaging with different stakeholders and local agencies. To explore this research, with a list of questionnaires, researcher conducted interviews with grassroots level respondents’ including local politicians, civil society members, academicians and mass people to examine the attitudes, opinions, voting behaviour and the political environment of the locality in reference to the parliamentary election of 2008 in Bogura district, Bangladesh. The study has found that behaviour of voters was influenced by several factors such as religion, caste, community, language, money, policy or ideology, purpose of the polls, extent of the franchise, political wave etc which led the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) to capture two seats from Bogura district. Since then the contemporary Bangladeshi politics has taking place through conflicts and corruption.