Jhalokati Candidate Rebrands Social Media Backlash as Political Triumph

In a masterclass of digital-age political spin, Faizul Haque, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Jhalokati-1, has claimed that a widely criticised video of him discussing tobacco users has inadvertently secured his party two crore (20 million) votes. Speaking at a reception in the Kathalia Upazila headquarters on Wednesday evening, Haque described the viral controversy not as a blunder, but as a “divine marketing gift” worth millions of takas in free publicity.

The “Bidi” Controversy Explained

The stir began when a video surfaced showing Haque encouraging his campaign workers to approach voters everywhere—including tea stalls. In the clip, he suggested that activists should not hesitate to deliver the message of the ‘Scales’ (Daripalla) even to those who might be smoking bidis (traditional cigarettes) or those without traditional religious appearances.

Addressing the audience at the event held for Dr Mahmuda Mitu of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Haque was unrepentant. “On Facebook, everything we say is prone to going viral,” he noted. “My comments were deliberately taken out of context. I simply said that our message must reach everyone. If a man is smoking a bidi, does that mean he is not a voter? If a man is clean-shaven, is he excluded from our vision?”

Campaign Snapshot: Jhalokati-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia)

“Marketing Gift from the Almighty”

Haque argued that the viral nature of the clip provided a level of national exposure that money simply cannot buy. “That two-minute video reached every corner of the country. It provided us with two crore takas’ worth of marketing for free,” he claimed, adding that the incident was a “gift from Allah.”

He further defended his inclusive approach by invoking a theological perspective on reformation. According to Haque, the concepts of Heaven and Hell exist precisely because humans have the capacity to change. He asserted that political outreach should embrace people in their current state, regardless of their “bad habits,” in order to guide them toward a better social and political path.

Confidence in Jhalokati-1

As the 13th National Parliamentary Election approaches, Haque maintains that the electorate in Rajapur and Kathalia is desperate for an alternative to the traditional powerhouses. He claimed that the local sentiment has shifted decisively toward the 10-party alliance. “People have seen the others; now they want to see the ‘Scales’ in action,” he stated confidently.

While political analysts remain sceptical of his “20 million votes” figure, the incident underscores how candidates in the 2026 election are increasingly using viral social media moments to bypass traditional gatekeepers and dominate the national conversation.