A total of 2,569 candidates have submitted nomination papers for the 300 constituencies of the 13th national parliamentary election, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Of them, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded the highest number of candidates — 331 — followed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with 276.
The information was disclosed in a report signed by ASM Humayun Kabir, convener of the EC’s Central Coordination Committee and director general of the National Identity Registration Wing, a day after the submission of nomination papers on Tuesday.
According to the report, candidates from 51 political parties, along with independents, have filed nominations. Besides BNP and Jamaat, the Islamic Movement Bangladesh submitted 268 nominations, the Jatiya Party 224, the National Citizen Party (NCP) 44, and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) seven.
EC Public Relations Director Md Shariful Alam said that of the total 2,569 nomination papers, 478 were filed by independent candidates, while the rest were submitted by candidates nominated by political parties.
Among other parties, the number of candidates includes: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 24, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) 65, Zaker Party seven, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) 41, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 94, Bangladesh Islamic Front 27, National Democratic Movement (NDM) eight, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) 53, Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) 104, Bangladesh Congress 18, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) 21, Bangladesh Labour Party 19, Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP) 13, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) 30, and several others with smaller numbers of candidates.
The EC also said that several registered parties did not take part in the election process, including Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML), Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Workers’ Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Trinamool BNP, and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM).
At present, 59 political parties are registered with the EC. However, the Awami League is not on the ballot as its registration remains suspended.
According to the revised election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from December 30 to January 4, 2026. Appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed from January 5 to 9, with hearings scheduled from January 10 to 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20.
The final list of candidates, along with symbol allocation, will be published on January 21. Election campaigning will begin on January 22 and continue until 7:30am on February 10. Voting is scheduled for February 12.
