In Syedpur town of Nilphamari-4 constituency, candidates are using both Bangla and Urdu loudspeakers to seek votes ahead of the upcoming election. The campaign includes Urdu songs and ghazals, drawing mixed reactions from residents. Many visitors find the approach entertaining, while others see it as a novel way to connect with Urdu-speaking voters who make up about half of the municipality’s electorate.

Urdu-speaking residents, locally known as Biharis, have lived in Syedpur since 1947, with many gaining voting rights in 2008. Around 60,000 voters from 22 Urdu-speaking camps are considered decisive in determining election outcomes. Candidates say the use of Urdu helps these voters better understand names and symbols. However, some citizens criticize the move, citing the historical struggle to establish Bangla as the state language, while others defend it as inclusive and democratic.

Local officials confirmed that the Election Commission has not issued any directive on language use in campaigns. Analysts note that the Urdu-language outreach reflects both electoral strategy and broader social and cultural discourse in Syedpur.