Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Survey shows Tarique Rahman popular, Bangladesh government faces pressure
A new survey asked more than 3,400 people in Bangladesh what they thought about their leaders and country.
Most respondents said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was doing a good job.
However, fewer people approved of his government as a whole.
Many families said they were worse off than a year ago.
Electricity, fuel, and the prices of everyday goods were the biggest problems.
Some people were also worried about jobs and law and order.
Rahman received strong support from Jamaat-e-Islami supporters.
Bangladesh’s relationship with India is also being watched closely.
The survey suggests Rahman is personally popular, but his government must improve people’s daily lives and manage foreign-policy concerns.
The Doppler Approval Rating Survey 2026 found 66.3% of respondents approved of Tarique Rahman’s performance, while 21.6% gave him a negative rating.
Approval for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government was lower at 54.5%, with nearly one-third dissatisfied.
Among Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, 65.5% said Rahman was doing his job well.
Electricity and fuel, essential-goods prices, law and order, and employment were identified as major concerns.
Only 48.6% believed Bangladesh was moving in the right direction, while India-Bangladesh ties remained under scrutiny.
- Who
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government, and respondents to the Doppler Approval Rating Survey 2026.
- What
- A survey measured approval of Rahman and his government and recorded public concerns about the economy, national direction, and foreign policy.
- When
- The survey was presented in Dhaka on Wednesday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- The survey covered respondents across all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
- Why
- The findings are significant because economic pressures, Jamaat-e-Islami’s support for Rahman, and Bangladesh’s evolving relationship with India are influencing scrutiny of his government.
Political Strength and Domestic Support
Government Pressures and Strategic Concerns
Personal popularity versus government performance
Political Strength and Domestic Support
Rahman retains strong personal approval, including substantial support among Jamaat-e-Islami supporters.
Government Pressures and Strategic Concerns
Approval for the overall government is lower, and nearly half of respondents said their families were worse off than a year earlier.
Economic outlook
Political Strength and Domestic Support
Expectations for the next year were more optimistic, suggesting some respondents still see room for improvement.
Government Pressures and Strategic Concerns
High costs for electricity, fuel, and essential goods, along with concerns about employment and law and order, could weaken Rahman’s political support.
Bangladesh’s India policy
Political Strength and Domestic Support
Bangladesh has invited attention to bilateral engagement by keeping open the question of Rahman’s participation in the BRICS outreach session and citing the need for a more conducive environment for a New Delhi visit.
Government Pressures and Strategic Concerns
India-related uncertainty, the dispute over Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, Jamaat’s political influence, and closer Bangladesh-Pakistan security contacts have raised concerns about Dhaka’s strategic orientation.
- Survey name
- Doppler Approval Rating Survey 2026
- Survey sample
- More than 3,400 respondents across all 64 districts
- Rahman approval
- 66.3% said Tarique Rahman was doing his job well; 21.6% gave him a negative rating
- Government approval
- 54.5% approved of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government’s performance
- Jamaat support
- 65.5% of Jamaat-e-Islami supporters said Rahman was doing his job well
- Top concerns
- Electricity and fuel were cited by 59.5% of respondents, and essential-goods prices by 59.1%
- National outlook
- 48.6% believed Bangladesh was moving in the right direction, compared with 35.6% who disagreed