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submissions by Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), an ally of the AL.

Though EC records show that seven aspirants from JSD-Inu filed nominations, the party said it would not participate in the polls.

On Monday, the party announced a boycott of the election, alleging the authorities were attempting to stage an “unconstitutional referendum” and a “one-sided parliamentary election.”

Sajjad Hossain, the party’s office secretary, questioned the authenticity of the nominations. “We are not taking part in the polls. Our president is in jail, while the general secretary has been absent from work for a long time. So, who issued their nomination letters?” he asked.

EC Public Relations Officer Ruhul Amin Mollik, who provided journalist with the data, said the EC compiled it based on information submitted by the aspirants themselves. Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed told this newspaper that the matter would be examined during the nomination scrutiny period.

EC data also indicates that no nominations were submitted by Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninist), Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh National Awami Party, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, and Trinamool BNP.

With aspirants from at least 50 parties, the upcoming election is expected to see significantly higher participation than in elections since 2008, when party registration became mandatory.

EC sources said 28 parties, including the Awami League and its allies, contested the 12th parliamentary election in 2024. All 39 registered parties participated in the 2018 polls, which were widely criticised over allegations of ballot stuffing on the night before the voting day, while only 12 parties contested the largely boycotted 2014 election.

All 38 registered parties joined the 2008 polls. Earlier, 54 parties contested in 2001, 81 in the June 1996 election, and 41 in the controversial February 1996 polls. In 1995, 75 parties participated. The 1988 election saw only eight parties participate, as major opposition groups, including the BNP and the Awami League, boycotted the polls.

In 1986, 28 parties contested, though many opposition parties, including the BNP, did not participate. In 1979, 29 parties joined, while the country’s first parliamentary election in 1973 saw 14 parties contest.

PARTY WISE ASPIRANTS

Apart from BNP, Jamaat, Islami Andolon, JP (GM Quader), NCP, and AB Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad fielded candidates in 104 seats, followed by Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis with 94, Khilafat Majlis with 68, Communist Party of Bangladesh with 65, Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh with 42, and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) with 41.

Bangladesh Islami Front submitted nominations for 27 seats, JSD (Rab) for 31, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) for 30, Liberal Democratic Party for 24, Jonotar Dal and Gano Forum for 23 each, Islamic Front Bangladesh for 22, Bangladesh Supreme Party for 21, and Bangladesh Sangskritik Mukti Jote for 20.

Bangladesh Labour Party aspires to contest in 19 seats, Bangladesh Congress and Ganosamhati Andolon in 18 each, Amjonotar Dal in 17, Bangladesh Muslim League in 14, Bangladesh Republican Party and Jatiya Party in 13 each, and Nagorik Oikya and Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan in 11 each.

Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party, and Bangladesh Jasad filed nominations in nine seats each; Nationalist Democratic Movement and Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Andolan in eight each; Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), and Zaker Party in seven each; and Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party and Gano Front in six each.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Sirajul) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh aspirants have filed nominations for five seats each, while several smaller parties submitted nominations in three seats or fewer.

INDEPENDENT ASPIRANTS DROP

According to the data, the number of independent candidates this time has dropped sharply compared to the 2024 and 2018 polls.

In 2024, a record 747 independents filed nominations, with 437 contesting. Experts viewed this as the Awami League’s bid to boost turnout, though the presence of rebel candidates from the then-ruling party led some to dismiss them as “dummy candidates.”

In 2018, 498 independents filed, and 128 contested, while in 2014, 150 filed and 104 ran. Earlier elections saw 120 independents in 1973, 422 in 1979, 453 in 1986, 214 in 1988, 424 in 1991, 284 in 1996, 486 in 2001, and 151 in 2008, according to EC data.