An anti-Bangladesh political billboard hung next to a bus stop in the Portuguese city of Montijo has sparked widespread discussion and criticism in the country. Bangladeshi expatriates have expressed anger over the incident.

The billboard uses a picture of André Ventura, the leader of Portugal’s far-right party ‘Sega’, and reads in large letters: ‘Isto não é Bangladesh’. Which means in Bengali: ‘This is not Bangladesh’.

André Ventura is a conservative leader of Portugal’s main opposition party, the Sega. His party is aiming to win the presidential election in January next year with an anti-immigration stance. As leader of the main opposition party, Ventura is campaigning on an anti-immigration message ahead of the presidential election in January.

According to local media, this billboard is part of his party’s election campaign.

Ventura himself posted a picture of the billboard on his Instagram account last Sunday (October 26). In the caption of the post, he wrote, “They are already on the streets. On January 18th, we will shake this country. Have no fear!”

The slogan ‘This is not Bangladesh’ has now become a central theme of his party’s campaign, especially since it directly mentions Bangladesh, which has sparked widespread backlash.

Bangladeshi expatriates living in Portugal have strongly condemned the billboard as ‘insulting and racist’. Many have taken to social media to protest against it, calling Ventura’s behavior a ‘racist attempt’.

In addition to this billboard, André Ventura was seen on another billboard related to the upcoming presidential election, which reads: ‘The Roma community must obey the law’.

It is worth noting that in about three months, in January 2026, the presidential election in Portugal will be held. Possible candidates to succeed current President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa include Luis Márquez Mendes, Antonio José Seguro, André Ventura, Henrique Goveia y Mello, João Cotrim de Figueiredo, Antonio Filipe, Catarina Martins and Jorge Pinto.