Bangladesh Politics – Leaders, Political Parties, Parliament & Elections
Politics of Bangladesh takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 and has undergone seventeen amendments.
Political parties in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Awami League
Founded: 1949
Leader: Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Founded: 1978
Leader: Khaleda Zia
Jatiya Party
Founded: 1986
Leader: GM Quader
Communist Party of Bangladesh
Founded: 1948
Leader: Shah Alam
Socialist Party of Bangladesh
Founded: 1980
Leader: Comrade Bazlur Rashid Firoz
Workers Party of Bangladesh
Founded: 1980
Leader: Rashed Khan Menon
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal
Founded: 1972
Leader: Hasanul Haque Inu
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh
Founded: 2004
Leader: A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
Gano Forum
Founded: 1992
Leader: Kamal Hossain
Political parties in Bangladesh
Election results - 2024
Background
| Election date(s) | 07 Jan 2024 |
| Number of seats at stake | 300 |
Candidates
| Number of parties contesting the election | 28 |
| Total number of candidates | 1,973 |
Voter turnout
| Registered voters | 119,689,289 |
| Voters | 50,030,122 |
| Voter turnout | 41.8% |
Results
| About the election | The Bangladesh Awami League (AL), led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, won a fourth consecutive term, taking 224 of the 300 seats at stake in the 350-member Parliament (see note 1). In addition, 62 independent candidates – most of them reportedly close to the AL – were elected. Opposition parties, including the AL’s main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia), boycotted the 2024 elections (see note 2). On 11 January, President Mohammed Shahabuddin (AL) swore in Ms. Hasina as Prime Minister. On 30 January, the newly elected Parliament re-elected Ms. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury (AL) as its Speaker for a fourth consecutive term. |
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) | 224 |
| Jatiya Party (Ershad) | 11 |
| Bangladesh Kalyan Party | 1 |
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) | 1 |
| Workers Party of Bangladesh | 1 |
| Independents | 62 |
Election results - 2018
Background
| Election date(s) | 30 Dec 2018 |
| Number of seats at stake | 300 |
Voter turnout
| Registered voters | 104,238,677 |
Results
| About the election | The Grand Alliance – the ruling coalition led by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League (AL) – won 288 out of 300 general seats in the 350-member Parliament (see note 1), giving her a third consecutive term. The Jatiya Oikya Front (“National Unity Front”), formed by the AL’s main rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP, see note 2) and its allies, took only eight seats. A record 22 women won general seats, up from 18 in 2014. On 9 January 2019, President Md Abdul Hamid (AL) convened the newly elected parliament for 30 January. |
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) | 258 |
| Jatiya Party | 23 |
| Bangladesh Workers Party | 3 |
| Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh | 2 |
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) | 2 |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) | 6 |
| Gano Forum | 2 |
| Independents | 3 |
Election results - 2014
Background
| Election date(s) | 05 Jan 2014 |
| Number of seats at stake | 300 |
Candidates
| Number of parties contesting the election | 12 |
| Total number of candidates | 380 |
Voter turnout
| Registered voters | 92,007,113 |
| Voters | 47,262,168 |
| Voter turnout | 51.4% |
Results
| About the election | The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its allies, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took a total of 245 seats of the 300 seats at stake. The elections were boycotted by an 18-party opposition alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Due to the boycott, a total of 153 seats were decided uncontested. The Jatiya Party led by former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad took 34 seats. |
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) | 234 |
| Jatiya Party | 34 |
| Independents | 16 |
| Bangladesh Workers Party | 6 |
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) | 5 |
| Jatiya Party-JP | 2 |
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation | 2 |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) | 1 |
Election results - 2008
Background
| Election date(s) | 29 Dec 2008 |
Voter turnout
| Registered voters | 81,083,933 |
| Voters | 70,647,508 |
| Voter turnout | 87.13% |
Results
| About the election | The final results gave 263 seats to the AL-led alliance of which 230 went to the AL. The BNP took 30 seats and its allies three (see note 2). The remainder went to independent candidates. Nineteen women were elected. |
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) | 230 |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) | 30 |
| Jatiya Party (National Party) (Naziur) | 27 |
| Independents | 4 |
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal-Jasad | 3 |
| Bangladesh Jamaytee Islami (Bangladesh Islamic Block) | 2 |
| Bangladesh Workers Party | 2 |
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) | 1 |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) | 1 |
Election results - 2001
Background
| Election date(s) | 01 Oct 2001 |
Voter turnout
| Registered voters | 74,660,443 |
| Voters | 55’905’518 |
| Voter turnout | 74.88% |
Results
| About the election | The results of the parliamentary elections showed that the BNP, which had formed an alliance with three other (Islamic) parties, had won 193 of 300 seats, while the outgoing Awami League had won 62, the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh 18, and the National Party (Ershad) 14. Turnout was near 75%. |
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Bangladesh National Party (BNP) | 193 |
| Awami League | 62 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami | 17 |
| Jatiya Party | 14 |
| Others | 8 |
| Independents | 6 |
Last updated: May 14, 2024