Elections in Bangladesh
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Bangladesh elects on national level a legislature with one house or chamber. The unicameral Jatiyo Sangshad, meaning national parliament, has 350 members of which 300 members are directly elected through a national election for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies while 50 memberships are reserved for the women who are selected by the ruling party or coalition. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. The president who is the head of the state is elected by the National Parliament. The president of Bangladesh is a ceremonial post and does not exercise any control over the running of the state.
Bangladesh has an unofficial two-party system which has evolved over time since the election of 1991. It means that there are two dominant political parties or coalitions, one headed by Bangladesh Awami League and the other by Bangladesh Nationalist Party, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party in terms of achieving a majority. However, the Jatiya Party (Ershad) also has gained electoral success over the years, winning several local and mayoral elections and being the primary opposition party since 2008.
Historical Overview[edit]
The constitution was adopted in 1972 and declared Bangladesh as a parliamentary republic. However, in 1975 executive powers were transferred to the Presidency, reducing the Jatiyo Sangshad and the Prime Minister to legislative powers only. This system was maintained until 1991 when the Twelfth Amendment was passed, returning the state to a parliamentary system. Since 1971, 11 parliamentary elections have been held and three Presidential elections have been held by popular vote.
Parliamentary elections[edit]
Electoral system[edit]
The Parliament of Bangladesh (Jatiya Sangsad) consists of 350 members elected to five-year terms. Of that number, 300 are elected in single-member territorial constituencies according to the first-past-the-post electoral system. The remaining 50 seats are reserved for women, and are filled on the basis of proportional representation by a vote of the 300 members. The number of reserved seats has been revised over the years, increasing from 30 to 45 under the 8th parliament and 45 to 50 under the 9th parliament.[1]
General elections[edit]
Since independence in 1971, 11 general elections have been held in Bangladesh to elect members of the Jatiya Sangsad:
1970[edit]
1970 Pakistani general election
The 1970 Pakistani National Assembly election was held on 7 December 1970. In East Pakistan, The total number of voters were 29,479,386. The number of casting votes was 17,005,163 (57.68%), the valid casting votes was 16,454,278.[2]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awami League | 12,338,921 | 74.9 | 160 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami | 991,908 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Pakistan Democratic Party | 483,571 | 2.9 | 1 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Convention) | 464,185 | 2.8 | 0 |
| National Awami Party (Wali) | 310,986 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Kou) | 274,453 | 1.6 | 0 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Kayum) | 175,822 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Independent | 561,083 | 3.4 | 1 |
1970 East Pakistan Provincial Assembly election
The 1970 East Pakistan Provincial Assembly election was held on 17 December 1970. The percentage of casting votes was (57.69%), and the number of reserved women seat was 10.[3]
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Awami League | 288 | |
| Pakistan Democratic Party | 2 | |
| National Awami Party (Wali) | 1 | |
| Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan | 1 | |
| Nizam-e-Islam Party | 1 | |
| Independents | 7 | |
| Total | 300 | |
| Source: Baxter[4] | ||
1973[edit]
The 1973 general election was held on 7 March 1973. There were 15 seats reserved for women.[5]
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Awami League | 13,798,717 | 73.20 | 293 | +5 | |
| National Awami Party (Muzaffar) | 1,569,299 | 8.32 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 1,229,110 | 6.52 | 1 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Bhashani) | 1,002,771 | 5.32 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya League | 62,354 | 0.33 | 1 | +1 | |
| Bangla Jatiya League | 53,097 | 0.28 | 0 | New | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 47,211 | 0.25 | 0 | New | |
| Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal | 38,421 | 0.20 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist) | 18,619 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Shramik Federation | 17,271 | 0.09 | 0 | New | |
| Banglar Communist Party | 11,911 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Bangla Chattra Union | 7,564 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Congress | 3,761 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Ganatantrik Dal | 1,818 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 989,884 | 5.25 | 5 | –2 | |
| Total | 18,851,808 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 18,851,808 | 97.53 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 477,875 | 2.47 | |||
| Total votes | 19,329,683 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 35,205,642 | 54.91 | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al., Government of Bangladesh | |||||
1979[edit]
The 1979 general election was held on 18 February 1979.[6] There were 30 seats reserved for women.[7]
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 7,934,236 | 41.17 | 207 | New | |
| Awami League | 4,734,277 | 24.56 | 39 | –254 | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League–Islamic Democratic League | 1,941,394 | 10.07 | 20 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 931,851 | 4.83 | 8 | +7 | |
| Awami League (Mizan) | 535,426 | 2.78 | 2 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Muzaffar) | 432,514 | 2.24 | 1 | New | |
| United People's Party | 170,955 | 0.89 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Gono Front | 115,622 | 0.60 | 2 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Nurur-Zahid) | 88,385 | 0.46 | 0 | New | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 75,455 | 0.39 | 0 | 0 | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) | 74,771 | 0.39 | 1 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya League | 69,319 | 0.36 | 2 | +1 | |
| Jatiya Ekata Party | 44,459 | 0.23 | 1 | New | |
| Bangladesh Ganatantrik Andolan | 34,259 | 0.18 | 1 | New | |
| Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal | 27,259 | 0.14 | 0 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Naser) | 25,336 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Janata Dal | 18,748 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| National Republican Party for Parity | 14,429 | 0.07 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party | 10,932 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Labour Party | 7,738 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| People's Democratic Party | 5,703 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal | 4,954 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Democratic Party | 3,564 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Mukti Party | 3,363 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Tanti Samity | 1,834 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party | 1,575 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Gano Azadi League | 1,378 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| United Republican Party | 389 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chashi Dal | 130 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 1,963,345 | 10.19 | 16 | +15 | |
| Total | 19,273,600 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 19,273,600 | 97.95 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 402,524 | 2.05 | |||
| Total votes | 19,676,124 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 38,363,858 | 51.29 | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al., Government of Bangladesh | |||||
1986[edit]
The 1986 general election was held on 7 May 1986. There were 30 seats reserved for women.[8]
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Jatiya Party | 12,079,259 | 42.34 | 153 | New | |
| Awami League | 7,462,157 | 26.16 | 76 | +37 | |
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | 1,314,057 | 4.61 | 10 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) | 725,303 | 2.54 | 4 | New | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League | 412,765 | 1.45 | 4 | +4 | |
| National Awami Party | 369,824 | 1.30 | 5 | +5 | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 259,728 | 0.91 | 5 | +5 | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Siraj) | 248,705 | 0.87 | 3 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Muzaffar) | 202,520 | 0.71 | 2 | +1 | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League | 191,107 | 0.67 | 3 | New | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 151,828 | 0.53 | 3 | New | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 123,306 | 0.43 | 0 | New | |
| Jana Dal | 98,100 | 0.34 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Nagarik Sanghati | 68,290 | 0.24 | 0 | New | |
| Islami Jukta Front | 50,509 | 0.18 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Odud) | 46,704 | 0.16 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (M-L) | 36,944 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |
| Gano Azadi League | 23,632 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Islamic Andolan | 22,931 | 0.08 | 0 | New | |
| Jamaaiatay Olamaya Islam | 5,676 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Jamaaiatay Olamaya Islam-Nezam-e-Islami party | 5,572 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Pragotishil Jatiyatabadi Dal | 2,997 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Sujat) | 1,988 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jayita League | 1,985 | 0.01 | 0 | –2 | |
| Bangladesh Hindu Oikkya Front | 1,338 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal | 149 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |
| Young Muslim Society | 141 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islamic Republican Party | 110 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 4,619,025 | 16.19 | 32 | +16 | |
| Total | 28,526,650 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 28,526,650 | 98.69 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 377,209 | 1.31 | |||
| Total votes | 28,903,859 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 47,305,886 | 61.10 | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al., Government of Bangladesh | |||||
1988[edit]
The 1988 general election was held on 3 March 1988. There were 30 seats reserved for women.[9]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jatiya Party | 17,680,133 | 68.44 | 251 | +98 | |
| Combined Opposition Party | 3,263,340 | 12.63 | 19 | New | |
| Bangladesh Freedom Party | 850,284 | 3.29 | 2 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Siraj) | 309,666 | 1.20 | 3 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 105,910 | 0.41 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23-Party Alliance | 102,930 | 0.40 | 0 | New | |
| Ganatantra Bastabayan Party | 4,209 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Jana Dal | 28,929 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Independents | 3,487,457 | 13.50 | 25 | –7 | |
| Total | 25,832,858 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Source: Nohlen, Government of Bangladesh | |||||
1991[edit]
The 1991 general election was held on 13 January 1991. There were 30 seats reserved for women.[10]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 10,507,549 | 30.81 | 140 | New | |
| Awami League | 10,259,866 | 30.08 | 88 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | 4,136,661 | 12.13 | 18 | New | |
| Jatiya Party | 4,063,537 | 11.92 | 35 | –216 | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League | 616,014 | 1.81 | 5 | New | |
| Zaker Party | 417,737 | 1.22 | 0 | New | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 407,515 | 1.19 | 5 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) | 269,451 | 0.79 | 0 | New | |
| Islami Oikya Jote | 269,434 | 0.79 | 1 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Muzaffar) | 259,978 | 0.76 | 1 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) | 171,011 | 0.50 | 0 | New | |
| Ganatantri Party | 152,529 | 0.45 | 1 | New | |
| National Democratic Party | 121,918 | 0.36 | 1 | New | |
| Bangladesh Janata Dal | 120,729 | 0.35 | 0 | New | |
| United Communist League of Bangladesh | 110,517 | 0.32 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 93,049 | 0.27 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Freedom Party | 90,781 | 0.27 | 0 | –2 | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Siraj) | 84,276 | 0.25 | 1 | –2 | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Ainuddin) | 66,565 | 0.20 | 0 | New | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 63,434 | 0.19 | 1 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Khaliquzzaman) | 34,868 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Kader) | 32,693 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| Janata Mukti Party | 30,962 | 0.09 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Ganotantrik Party | 24,761 | 0.07 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Inquilab Party | 24,310 | 0.07 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Oikkya Front | 21,624 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party–Ganatantrik Oikkya Jote | 20,568 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Jomiyatay Wulamayya Islami Party | 15,073 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Mahbub) | 13,413 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Hindu League | 11,941 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninist) | 11,275 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Oikkya Prakriyya | 11,074 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Matin) | 11,073 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Bhashani) | 9,129 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Pragotishil Jatiyatabadi Dal | 6,677 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal | 6,396 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Biplobi Front | 3,671 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Pragotishil Ganatantrik Sakt | 3,598 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Ashraf) | 3,187 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Tanti Dal | 3,115 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Yusuf) | 2,757 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Jukta Front | 2,668 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Asad) | 1,570 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh National Congress | 1,421 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Chhashi Dal | 1,317 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Gano Azadi League (Samad) | 1,314 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Janasakti Party | 1,263 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party | 1,236 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Islamic Samajtantrik Dal Bangladesh | 1,039 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Freedom League | 1,034 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Peoples Democratic Party | 879 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh People's League (Goariobi Newaz) | 742 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Mukti Dal | 723 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jana Parishad | 686 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Muslim Peoples Party | 515 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolan | 503 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh National Hindu Party | 502 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal | 496 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Democratic League | 453 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Humanitarian organization for the prevention of smoking and drug abuse (JIFSA) | 453 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Tarun Sangha | 417 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Labour Party | 318 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Manobatabadi Dal | 294 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Ideal Party | 251 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Sadequr Rahman) | 248 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Party | 241 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islamic Biplobi Parishad | 214 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islamic Front | 202 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Bekar Samaj | 182 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Adarsha Krishak Dal | 154 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islamic Revolutionary Party | 138 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Bekar Party | 39 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Sramajibi Party | 28 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| National Awami Party (Nur Mohammad Kazi) | 27 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya People's Party | 25 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 1,497,369 | 4.39 | 3 | –22 | |
| Total | 34,103,677 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 34,103,777 | 98.92 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 374,026 | 1.08 | |||
| Total votes | 34,477,803 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 62,181,743 | 55.45 | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al., Bangladesh Election Commission | |||||
1996[edit]
Following boycotts by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party won the uncontested February 1996 general election. However, amidst protests, they were made to cave in to Awami League's original demands, dissolve the parliament, and hold elections under a neutral caretaker government after the enactment of the 13th amendment.
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 278 | +138 | |||
| Bangladesh Freedom Party | 1 | 0 | |||
| Independents | 10 | +7 | |||
| Vacant | 11 | – | |||
| Total | 300 | 0 | |||
| Total votes | 11,776,481 | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 56,149,182 | 20.97 | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al. | |||||
Bangladesh Awami League won the June 1996 general election for the first time since 1973 by forming a coalition government, since they fell 5 seats short of a majority.
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Awami League | 15,882,792 | 37.44 | 146 | New | |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 14,255,986 | 33.61 | 116 | –184 | |
| Jatiya Party | 6,954,981 | 16.40 | 32 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | 3,653,013 | 8.61 | 3 | New | |
| Islami Oikya Jote | 461,517 | 1.09 | 1 | New | |
| Jaker Party | 167,597 | 0.40 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) | 97,916 | 0.23 | 1 | New | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 56,404 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |
| Gano Forum | 54,250 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) | 50,944 | 0.12 | 0 | New | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 48,549 | 0.11 | 0 | New | |
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh | 45,585 | 0.11 | 0 | New | |
| Sammilita Sangram Parishad | 40,803 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Freedom Party | 38,974 | 0.09 | 0 | New | |
| Samridhya Bangladesh Andolon | 27,083 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islami Front | 23,696 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 18,397 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiyabadi Awami League | 11,190 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Islami Shasantantra Andolon | 11,159 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Khalekuzzaman) | 10,234 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Mahbub) | 6,791 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP Bashani) | 5,948 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Jamir Ali) | 4,580 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Ganotantri Party | 4,114 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) | 3,620 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Democratic Republican Party | 3,605 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Janata Party | 3,364 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Nurul Islam) | 2,986 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Sheikh Asad) | 2,395 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Social Democratic Party | 1,938 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Gano Azadi League | 1,683 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Progotisil Jatiata Badi Dal | 1,515 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Hak Kathar Mancha | 1,340 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninst) | 1,148 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal | 964 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Communist Kendra | 888 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Biplobi Front | 631 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Saat Dalya Jote (Mirpur) | 602 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Hindu League | 570 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Peoples Party | 558 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Bekar Samaj | 548 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Tafsil Jati Federation (S.K. Mandal) | 537 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Desh Prem Party | 532 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Ganotantrik Sarbahara Party | 502 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya League (Sobhan) | 418 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jana Dal | 395 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Mahiuddin) | 393 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Seba Dal | 365 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| National Democratic Party | 353 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Krisak Sramik Janata Party | 294 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Islami Al Zihad Dal | 288 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Sarbahara Party | 248 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Jatiya Daridra Party | 244 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Sramajibi Oikya Forum | 229 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Islamic Dal Bangladesh (Saifur) | 221 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh People's League | 213 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Samajtantrik Samsad (Darshan Shava) | 209 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolon | 189 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Gano Oikkya Front (Guff) | 186 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Mehanati Front | 173 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Tafsili Federation (Sudir) | 150 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| People's Muslim League | 140 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| National Awami Party (NAP Bhashani) | 138 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Quran Dorshion Sangshta Bangladesh | 137 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Progatishil Gonotantrik Shakti | 134 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islami Party | 132 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Agragati Party | 131 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Oikya Prokria | 112 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Bashani Adarsha Bastabayan Parishad | 107 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Bastuhara Parishad | 105 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh National Congress | 99 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Quran Sunna Bastabayan Party | 82 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Tanjimul Muslimin | 81 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Samridhya Bangladesh Babosai Samproday | 48 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bashani Front | 45 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Raj Islami Party | 33 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| National Patriotic Party | 31 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islami Biplobi Parishad | 29 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Taherikay Olama-e-Bangladesh | 29 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| United People's Party | 26 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Manabodjikar Dal | 20 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 449,618 | 1.06 | 1 | New | |
| Total | 42,418,274 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 42,418,274 | 98.92 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 462,302 | 1.08 | |||
| Total votes | 42,880,576 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 56,716,935 | 75.60 | |||
| Source: Bangladesh Election Commission | |||||
2001[edit]
BNP won two-thirds majority in the parliament and won the 2001 general election.
 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 22,833,978 | 40.97 | 193 | |
| Awami League | 22,365,516 | 40.13 | 62 | |
| Islami Jatiya Oikya Front | 4,038,453 | 7.25 | 14 | |
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | 2,385,361 | 4.28 | 17 | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party | 621,772 | 1.12 | 4 | |
| Islami Oikya Jote | 376,343 | 0.68 | 2 | |
| Krishak Sramik Janata League | 261,344 | 0.47 | 1 | |
| Jatiya Party (Manju) | 243,617 | 0.44 | 1 | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 119,382 | 0.21 | 0 | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 56,991 | 0.10 | 0 | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 40,484 | 0.07 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Islami Front | 30,761 | 0.06 | 0 | |
| BASAD–Khalekuzzaman | 21,164 | 0.04 | 0 | |
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh | 19,256 | 0.03 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 13,472 | 0.02 | 0 | |
| Gano Forum | 8,494 | 0.02 | 0 | |
| Islami Shasantantra Andolon | 5,944 | 0.01 | 0 | |
| Liberal Party Bangladesh | 3,976 | 0.01 | 0 | |
| National Awami Party (NAP) | 3,801 | 0.01 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Progressive Party | 3,734 | 0.01 | 0 | |
| Ganatantri Party | 3,190 | 0.01 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal | 2,308 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Janata Party | 1,703 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolon | 1,248 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Jaker Party | 1,181 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Peoples Congress | 1,155 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Communist Kendra | 1,042 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) | 972 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Hindu League | 922 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Gano Azadi League | 780 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Jatiyo Janata Party (Adv. Nurul Islam Khan) | 657 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Muslim League (Jamir Ali) | 582 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| National Patriotic Party | 551 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| National Awami Party (Bhashani) | 442 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Tanti Dal | 441 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Samridha Bangladesh Andolon | 429 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal | 391 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Peoples Party | 382 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Desh Prem Party | 366 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Democratic Republican Party | 364 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Manabadhikar Dal | 237 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Krisak Sramik Janata Party | 197 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Liberal Democrats Party | 170 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Quran Darshan Sangstha Bangladesh | 161 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Sheik Asad) | 148 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Pragatishil Ganotantrik Shakti | 136 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Sama-Samaj Ganotantri Party | 131 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| National Awami Party (NAP-Bhashani Mushtaq) | 79 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Quran and Sunnah Bastabayan Party | 77 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bhashani Front | 76 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League | 59 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Bhashani Adarsha Bastabayan Parishad | 58 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh Sarbahara Party | 44 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Jatiya Janata Party (Hafizur) | 30 | 0.00 | 0 | |
| Independents | 2,262,073 | 4.06 | 6 | |
| Total | 55,736,625 | 100.00 | 300 | |
| Valid votes | 55,736,625 | 99.20 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 449,082 | 0.80 | ||
| Total votes | 56,185,707 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 74,946,364 | 74.97 | ||
| Source: ECB | ||||
2008[edit]
Bangladesh Awami League won two-thirds majority in the parliament and won the 2008 general election.
  Results by alliance (left) and party (right) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |||
| Grand Alliance | Awami League | 33,634,629 | 48.04 | 230 | +168 | ||
| Jatiya Party (Ershad) | 4,926,360 | 7.04 | 27 | +13 | |||
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 506,605 | 0.72 | 3 | +3 | |||
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 262,093 | 0.37 | 2 | +2 | |||
| Liberal Democratic Party | 191,679 | 0.27 | 1 | New | |||
| Total | 39,521,366 | 56.45 | 263 | +186 | |||
| Four Party Alliance | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 22,757,101 | 32.50 | 30 | –163 | ||
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | 3,289,967 | 4.70 | 2 | –15 | |||
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party | 173,292 | 0.25 | 1 | –3 | |||
| Islami Oikya Jote | 108,415 | 0.15 | 0 | –2 | |||
| Total | 26,328,775 | 37.61 | 33 | –183 | |||
| Islami Andolan Bangladesh | 658,254 | 0.94 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh | 175,245 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh | 146,827 | 0.21 | 0 | New | |||
| Zaker Party | 134,933 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jatiya Ganotantrik Party | 107,796 | 0.15 | 0 | New | |||
| Krishak Sramik Janata League | 102,879 | 0.15 | 0 | –1 | |||
| Gano Forum | 72,911 | 0.10 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Communist Party of Bangladesh | 42,331 | 0.06 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Socialist Party of Bangladesh | 38,643 | 0.06 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) | 37,350 | 0.05 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Islami Front | 31,785 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Khelafat Majlish | 27,921 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh National Awami Party | 24,141 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Kalayan Party | 21,609 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation | 19,905 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan | 16,944 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Progressive Democratic Party | 14,228 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |||
| National People's Party | 10,348 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party | 8,383 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |||
| Jatiya Party (Manju) | 7,818 | 0.01 | 0 | –1 | |||
| Bangladesh NAP | 4,365 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |||
| People's Front | 4,009 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |||
| United Citizens Movement | 3,542 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |||
| Ganatantri Party | 2,550 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh | 2,021 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Muslim League | 1,113 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Islamic Front Bangladesh | 1,020 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |||
| Bangladesh Freedom Party | 566 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |||
| Communist Party of Bangladesh (ML) | 297 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Independents | 2,060,392 | 2.94 | 4 | –2 | |||
| None of the above | 381,924 | 0.55 | – | – | |||
| Total | 70,012,191 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |||
| Valid votes | 70,012,191 | 99.10 | |||||
| Invalid/blank votes | 636,294 | 0.90 | |||||
| Total votes | 70,648,485 | 100.00 | |||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 81,087,003 | 87.13 | |||||
| Source: ECB | |||||||
2014[edit]
In the 2014 general election the Awami League was declared victors in 127 of the 154 uncontested seats by default on 5 January 2014.[11] Of the remaining uncontested seats, the Jatiya Party led by Rowshan Ershad won 20, the JSD won three, the Workers Party won two and the Jatiya Party (Manju) won one.[12]
As a result of violence and the opposition boycott voter turnout was 22%.[13][14] Results of 139 seats out of 147 were released, with the Awami League winning 105, the Jatiya Party winning 13, the Workers Party winning four, the JSD winning two and the Tarikat Federation and BNF winning one each.[12] The remaining 8 constituencies election were suspended due to violence and re-election to be held.[12] The newly elected MPs were sworn in on 9 January.[15]
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Awami League | 12,357,374 | 72.14 | 234 | +4 | |
| Jatiya Party | 1,199,727 | 7.00 | 34 | +7 | |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 359,620 | 2.10 | 6 | +4 | |
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 203,799 | 1.19 | 5 | +2 | |
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation | 177,449 | 1.04 | 2 | +2 | |
| Jatiya Party (Manju) | 124,389 | 0.73 | 2 | +2 | |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Front | 107,990 | 0.63 | 1 | +1 | |
| Bangladesh National Awami Party | 7,120 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | |
| Khelafat Majlish | 5,725 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gano Front | 2,717 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Bangladesh Islami Front | 2,585 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ganatantri Party | 2,031 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | |
| Independents | 2,579,324 | 15.06 | 16 | +14 | |
| Total | 17,129,850 | 100.00 | 300 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 17,129,850 | 98.49 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 263,037 | 1.51 | |||
| Total votes | 17,392,887 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 43,943,184 | 39.58 | |||
| Source: Parliament of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Election Commission | |||||
2018[edit]
The 2018 general election held on 30 December 2018, voter turnout was 80%. Bangladesh Awami League under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won their 4th term as the ruling party with 302 seats. The Jatiya Party became the main opposition party with only 26 seats.[16]
2024[edit]
The 2024 general election held on 8 January 2024, voter turnout was 40% (whilst rumors suggest turnout to be below 10%) as a result of opposition boycott. Bangladesh Awami League under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won their 5th term as the ruling party with 223 seats with two other parties(jatiya party and trinamul BNP) securing 6 seats. Other than the political parties, independents won a total of 63 seats.[17]IIndia and China have already congratulated the daughter of Bangladesh for her landslide victory over the competition.
2018 Bangladeshi general election
Presidential elections[edit]
From independence until constitutional reform in 1991, the President was elected by popular vote, although this only happened on three occasions - 1978, 1981 and 1986.
Following constitutional reform and a return to a parliamentary democracy in 1991, the office of the President has been largely a ceremonial one. The President is elected by a vote in the Jatiya Sangsad. A Presidential term is for five-years, although they remain in office until their successor is elected. Elections under this system have taken place in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2013 and 2018.
1978[edit]
The 1978 Bangladeshi presidential elections were held on 3 June 1978. They were the first direct elections for the post President, as the post had previously been elected by the Jatiya Sangsad. The result was a victory for Ziaur Rahman, who won 76.6% of the vote. Turnout was 54.3%.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ziaur Rahman | Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Front | 15,733,807 | 76.6 |
| M. A. G. Osmani | Ganatantrik Oikkya Jote | 4,455,200 | 21.7 |
| Eight other candidates | 342,554 | 1.7 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 354,010 | – | |
| Total | 20,885,571 | 100 | |
1981[edit]
The 1981 Bangladeshi presidential elections were held on 15 November 1981. The result was a victory for the incumbent acting President Abdus Sattar of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who received 65.5% of the vote, beating his principal challenger Kamal Hossain of the Awami League. Voter turnout was 54.3%.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdus Sattar | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | 14,203,958 | 65.5 |
| Kamal Hossain | Bangladesh Awami League | 5,636,113 | 26.0 |
| Maulana Mohammudullah | Independent | 388,741 | 1.8 |
| M. A. G. Osmani | Independent | 293,637 | 1.4 |
| M. A. Jalil | Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal | 248,769 | 1.1 |
| Muzaffar Ahmed | NAP (M)-CPB | 224,188 | 1.0 |
| 33 other candidates | 682,154 | 3.2 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 332,524 | – | |
| Total | 22,010,084 | 100 | |
1986[edit]
The 1986 Bangladeshi presidential elections were held on 15 October 1986. The result was a victory for incumbent Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who had assumed the office in 1983 following a military coup. Ershad reportedly won 84.1% of the vote with a voter turnout of 54.9%. However the elections were controversial as they were boycotted by all major opposition candidates and there were reports of irregularities.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hussain Muhammad Ershad | Jatiya Party | 21,795,337 | 84.1 |
| Mauluna Mohammadullah | Independent | 1,510,456 | 5.8 |
| Syed Faruque Rahman | Bangladesh Freedom Party | 1,202,303 | 4.6 |
| Nine other candidates | 1,408,195 | 5.4 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 380,745 | – | |
| Total | 26,297,337 | 100 | |
See also[edit]
- Bangladesh Election Commission
- Electoral calendar
- Electoral system
- List of parliamentary constituencies of Bangladesh
Notes[edit]
- ^ The voting figures of the Awami League does not include the votes for 14 candidates of allied parties who contested on the Awami League 'boat' symbol
- ^ The voting figures of BNP includes all votes cast for candidates on the BNP 'sheaf of paddy' election symbol, including candidates belonging to allied parties
- ^ WPB fielded three candidates on its 'hammer' election symbol, who received 1,729 votes, and five candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 644,335 votes.
- ^ JASAD fielded nine candidates on its 'torch' election symbol, who received39,104 votes, and three candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 570940 votes.
- ^ Bikalpdhara Bangladesh fielded 23 candidates on its 'winnowing fan' election symbol, who received 18,183 votes, and three candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 547,757 votes.
- ^ Bangladesh Tarikat Federation fielded 16 candidates on its 'winnowing fan' election symbol, who received 6,087 votes, and two candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 423,868 votes.
- ^ One Bangladesh JASAD candidate ran on the Awami League 'boat' symbol.
- ^ The voting figures of the Awami League does not include the votes for 14 candidates of allied parties who contested on the Awami League 'boat' symbol
- ^ The voting figures of BNP includes all votes cast for candidates on the BNP 'sheaf of paddy' election symbol, including candidates belonging to allied parties
- ^ WPB fielded three candidates on its 'hammer' election symbol, who received 1,729 votes, and five candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 644,335 votes.
- ^ JASAD fielded nine candidates on its 'torch' election symbol, who received39,104 votes, and three candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 570940 votes.
- ^ Bikalpdhara Bangladesh fielded 23 candidates on its 'winnowing fan' election symbol, who received 18,183 votes, and three candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 547,757 votes.
- ^ Bangladesh Tarikat Federation fielded 16 candidates on its 'winnowing fan' election symbol, who received 6,087 votes, and two candidates on the Awami League 'boat' symbol, who received 423,868 votes.
- ^ One Bangladesh JASAD candidate ran on the Awami League 'boat' symbol.
References[edit]
- ^ Reserved parliamentary seats for women gets 25-year extension|Dhaka Tribune|8 July 2018
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-23
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-25
- ^ Craig Baxter (1971) "Pakistan Votes – 1970 Asian Survey, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp197–218
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-27
- ^ "The Rule of General Zia". Bangladesh Awami League. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-30
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-33
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-36
- ^ Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page 40
- ^ "Clashes and boycott mar Bangladesh election". BBC News. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ a b c "Repolls ordered in 8 constituencies". bdnews24.com. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ Barry, Ellen (5 January 2014). "Low Turnout in Bangladesh Elections Amid Boycott and Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ Barry, Ellen (6 January 2014). "Bangladesh ruling party wins after boycotted vote". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ "Newly elected Bangladesh MPs sworn in". Al Jazeera English.
- ^ Hasan, Rashidul (5 January 2019). "Never-ending drama in JP". The Daily Star.
- ^ Mahmud, Faisal (9 January 2024). "Sheikh Hasina wins fifth term in Bangladesh amid turnout controversy". Al Jazeera.
External links[edit]
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| Presidential elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
