Bangladesh has so far witnessed a total of 12 National Parliamentary Elections since its independence.
7 March 1973
First Parliamentary Election
The first general election to the National Parliament was held on 7 March 1973. Justice Md Idris served as Chief Election Commissioner. A total of 14 political parties, including the Awami League, contested the election. More than 18.8 million votes were cast, representing a turnout of 55.62 per cent. A total of 1,078 candidates, including 120 independents, contested 300 constituencies. The Awami League won 293 seats, including 11 uncontested seats. Of the remaining seven seats, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) won one, the National League one, and independent candidates five. The ruling Awami League returned to power, forming the government. This parliament lasted for two and a half years.
18 February 1979
Second Parliamentary Election
The second general election was held on 18 February 1979 under the Election Commission headed by Justice Nurul Islam. Twenty-nine political parties took part. The total number of voters was 38,789,239, including 20,034,717 men and 18,754,522 women. A total of 19,676,124 voters cast their ballots, giving a turnout of 50.94 per cent. There were 2,123 candidates in total. The BNP contested 298 seats and won 207, securing 41.16 per cent of the vote.
Awami League (Malek) contested 295 seats and won 39, while Awami League (Mizan) contested 184 seats and won two. JSD contested 240 seats and won eight. The Muslim League and Democratic League contested 266 seats and won 20. Six other parties won eight seats, while independents secured 16. The ruling BNP formed the government again. This parliament lasted for three years. On 24 March 1982, General H M Ershad imposed martial law and dissolved parliament.
7 May 1986
Third Parliamentary Election
Although President H M Ershad announced elections on 25 November 1984, they were not held due to the refusal of major political parties to participate. The third parliamentary election eventually took place on 7 May 1986. The BNP-led seven-party alliance boycotted the polls. Under the Election Commission led by Justice A T M Masud, 11 parties—including Ershad’s Jatiya Party, the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami—took part. There were 1,124 candidates. The Jatiya Party contested all 300 seats and won 153.
The Awami League contested 256 seats and won 76, while Jamaat contested 76 seats and won 10. Eight other parties won 33 seats, and independents secured 32. Ershad’s Jatiya Party formed the government. Of the 48,776,979 registered voters, 28,903,889 voted, giving a turnout of 60.31 per cent. This parliament lasted for 17 months. On 6 December 1987, President Ershad dissolved parliament.
3 March 1988
Fourth Parliamentary Election
The fourth parliamentary election was held on 3 March 1988 under the Election Commission headed by Justice A T M Masud. The Awami League-led eight-party alliance under Sheikh Hasina and the BNP-led seven-party alliance under Khaleda Zia boycotted the election. The Jatiya Party won 251 seats, including 18 uncontested. ASM Abdur Rab’s Combined Opposition secured 19 seats, JSD (Shahjahan Siraj) three, the Freedom Party two, and independents 25.
The results were rejected by the public, leading to a mass movement to oust the ruling Jatiya Party. Amid widespread protests, President Ershad resigned on 6 December 1990. Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed assumed office as Acting President, and parliament was dissolved. This parliament lasted for two years and seven months.
27 February 1991
Fifth Parliamentary Election
The Election Commission led by Justice Md Abdur Rouf initially scheduled the election for 2 March 1991, but it was brought forward to 27 February due to Shab-e-Barat. The BNP contested all 300 seats and won 140. The Awami League contested 264 seats and won 88, the Jatiya Party contested 272 seats and won 35, and Jamaat-e-Islami contested 222 seats and won 18. Several smaller parties and alliances each won one to five seats. The BNP, led by Begum Khaleda Zia, formed the government. Voter turnout was 55.45 per cent.
On 18 September 1991, the 12th constitutional amendment was passed, restoring the parliamentary system of government. This parliament lasted for four years and eight months.
15 February 1996
Sixth Parliamentary Election
The sixth parliament, formed after the election on 15 February 1996, lasted only 12 days. Forty-two parties, including the BNP and the Freedom Party, took part, while most major parties including the Awami League boycotted the polls. Voter turnout was only 21 per cent. The BNP won 278 of the 300 seats and formed the government, with Begum Khaleda Zia becoming prime minister for a second time. On 30 March 1996, President Abdur Rahman Biswas dissolved parliament, and Khaleda Zia resigned. Former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman was sworn in as head of the caretaker government.
12 June 1996
Seventh Parliamentary Election
The seventh parliamentary election was held on 12 June 1996, with 56,716,935 registered voters. The Awami League, BNP and Jamaat contested all 300 seats, while the Jatiya Party contested 293. A total of 2,574 candidates, including 48 women, contested the election. The Awami League won 146 seats, BNP 116, Jatiya Party 32, Jamaat three, and smaller parties and independents the remaining seats. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, formed the government. This parliament completed its full term.
1 October 2001
Eighth Parliamentary Election
The eighth parliamentary election was held on 1 October 2001 under a caretaker government led by former Chief Justice Latifur Rahman, with M A Sayeed as Chief Election Commissioner. There were 74,946,364 registered voters, and 54 political parties took part. The BNP-led alliance won a landslide victory, with the BNP securing 193 seats. The Awami League won 62 seats. Begum Khaleda Zia formed the government. This parliament completed its full term.
29 December 2008
Ninth Parliamentary Election
After political turmoil and the declaration of a state of emergency, elections were held on 29 December 2008 under a caretaker government led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and an Election Commission headed by Dr A T M Shamsul Huda. Thirty-eight parties took part. Of the 81,087,003 registered voters, the Awami League-led alliance won a landslide victory, securing 230 seats. Sheikh Hasina became prime minister.
5 January 2014
Tenth Parliamentary Election
The tenth parliamentary election was held on 5 January 2014 under the Awami League government, with the Election Commission led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed. Twenty-eight parties, including the BNP-led alliance, boycotted the polls. In the largely uncontested and controversial election, the Awami League won 234 seats. The party returned to power.
30 December 2018
Eleventh Parliamentary Election
The eleventh parliamentary election was held on 30 December 2018 under the Awami League government, with the Election Commission headed by K M Nurul Huda. All 39 registered parties participated. Of 104,238,365 registered voters, turnout was reported at 80 per cent. The Awami League won 259 seats and remained in government.
7 January 2024
Twelfth Parliamentary Election
The twelfth parliamentary election was held on 7 January 2024 under the Awami League government and was widely disputed. In the controversial poll, often referred to as a “dummy” election, the Awami League won 222 seats, while independents secured 62. The BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and 14 other registered parties boycotted the election. The twelfth parliament lasted for six months and seven days. On 5 August 2024, following a mass uprising by students and the public, the Sheikh Hasina government fell, and the prime minister and several ministers and MPs fled the country.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
