9 out of 60 Registered Parties Stay Out of the Race

Out of 60 registered political parties under the Election Commission (EC), nine are not participating in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Meanwhile, a significant portion of participating parties has managed to field only a limited number of candidates, raising fresh questions about the country’s political structure and the viability of alternative powers.

Election analysis reveals that 29 participating parties are contesting in only 1 to 20 seats. Only five parties have successfully fielded candidates in 100 or more constituencies. BNP leads with candidates in 331 seats, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami (276), Islami Andolan Bangladesh (268), and Jatiya Party (224). Additionally, Gono Odhikar Parishad has managed to field candidates in over 100 seats.

Parties abstaining from this election under the interim government include Trinamool BNP, BNM, Samyabadi Dal, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Awami League, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, NAP, Workers Party, and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation. Due to the ban on its activities, the Awami League is unable to participate. Similarly, except for Jasad, other partners of the 14-party alliance remain outside the race.

Experts suggest that while the return of a fair voting environment reduces the risk of the election being questioned, the organizational weakness of smaller parties proves that a strong political alternative to the major parties has yet to emerge. They warn that forming election-centric parties without ideological depth or public engagement may negatively impact voter confidence.