The use of campaign songs in Bangladesh’s electoral politics is far from a new phenomenon. Yet, in the lead-up to the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the production and distribution of such songs in both urban and rural areas has evolved into a substantial commercial enterprise, now valued at several crores of taka—an unprecedented scale compared with previous elections.
From the narrow lanes of Dhaka to rural marketplaces and paddy fields, the sounds of election-themed tunes reverberate widely. Strikingly, most songs are adaptations of popular Bangla hits, such as Dustu Kokil, Buk Chin Chinch Kore, Noya Daman, Rupban-e Nache Komor Dulaiya, and Ammajan. While the melodies remain largely unchanged, lyrics are modified to include candidates’ names, party symbols, and campaign slogans.
In Dhaka, more than a hundred studios in areas including Mogbazar, Bijoynagar, and Uttara are currently occupied with recording campaign songs. Raihan Mia, owner of Raihan Recording Studio in Uttara, explained, “If a candidate requests, we can create a song using a popular melody tailored to them.”
Meanwhile, Raj Ed Media in Chandpur operates in three shifts to meet demand. Studio head Rabbi Raj noted, “For each candidate, we usually produce 10–12 songs. Everything remains identical except the candidate’s name, party symbol, and constituency.”
Campaign Song Production Overview (Dhaka & Chandpur)
| Studio | Approx. Songs Produced | Average Song Length | Popular Original Melody | AI Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raihan Recording, Uttara | 200+ | 5 minutes | Dustu Kokil, Buk Chin Chinch Kore, etc. | 30 songs |
| Raj Ed Media, Chandpur | 300+ | 5 minutes | Predominantly popular Bangla hits | Partial AI use |
The production process largely relies on semi-trained musicians, though this election marks the first significant use of AI in song creation. Each song takes roughly five minutes to record, and the cost of delivering a copy from studio to candidate ranges between 2,000–3,000 taka. Combined, Raihan Recording and Raj Ed Media have produced approximately 2,700 songs this season, generating a market now worth multiple crores.
Legal considerations remain a critical concern. Under the Bangladesh Copyright Act, 2023, reproducing a melody without permission constitutes an offence. The Bangladesh Lyricists, Composers and Performers Society (BLCPS) and former Registrar Zafar Raja Chowdhury have warned that violators may face up to four years’ imprisonment or a fine of 500,000 taka. Enforcement, however, remains inconsistent.
Experts note that while using songs to influence voters is nothing new, the integration of technology and AI has dramatically amplified their reach over the past five to seven years. Today, campaign music constitutes a diverse and highly profitable sector, commanding a market value in the crore-taka range.