The use of campaign songs in Bangladeshi politics is far from new. Yet, in the run-up to the 13th national parliamentary elections, the production and distribution of such songs have evolved into a commercial enterprise spanning both urban and rural areas, now valued at several crore taka—an unprecedented scale compared to previous elections.
From the narrow lanes of Dhaka to village marketplaces and rice fields, election-themed melodies are echoing across the country. Most songs are adaptations of popular Bengali hits, such as Dustu Kokil, Buk Chinch Chinch Kore, Noya Daman, Rupban-e Nache Komor Dulaiya, and Ammajan. While the original tunes remain intact, the lyrics are customised to include candidates’ names, party symbols, and campaign slogans.
In Dhaka, over a hundred studios across Mogbazar, Bijoynagar, and Uttara are currently engaged in recording promotional tracks. Raihan Mia, owner of Raihan Recording Studio in Uttara, explained, “If a candidate requests, we can produce a bespoke campaign song using a popular tune.”
Meanwhile, Raj Ad Media in Chandpur is operating in three shifts. Studio head Rabbi Raj noted, “For each candidate, we typically produce 10–12 songs. The structure is almost identical; only the candidate’s name, party symbol, and constituency vary.”
Summary of Campaign Song Production (Dhaka & Chandpur)
| Studio | Approx. Songs Produced | Average Length | Popular Original Tunes | AI Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raihan Recording, Uttara | 200+ | 5 minutes | Dustu Kokil, Buk Chinch Chinch Kore, etc. | 30 songs |
| Raj Ad Media, Chandpur | 300+ | 5 minutes | Mainly popular Bengali hits | Partial AI usage |
While semi-trained musicians remain involved in the production process, this election season marks the first significant use of AI in campaign music. Recording each song takes approximately five minutes, with distribution from studio to candidate costing between 2,000–3,000 taka. Combined, Raihan Recording and Raj Ad Media have produced roughly 2,700 songs this season, generating a multi-crore taka market value.
Legal oversight is crucial. Under the Bangladesh Copyright Act, 2023, reusing a tune without permission constitutes an offence. Officials from the Bangladesh Lyricist, Composer and Performers Society (BLCPS) and former Registrar Zafar Raja Chowdhury caution that violators face up to four years in prison or a fine of 500,000 taka, although enforcement remains inconsistent.
Experts note that using music to influence voters is not new; however, technological integration and AI in the past five to seven years have magnified the impact significantly. Today, electoral jingles have transformed into a diverse, profitable industry commanding a market value in the crores.
