The Sheikh Hasina led Awami League has been barred from participating in the upcoming Bangladesh elections. (AI generated)
After Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, Bangladesh is all set to hold its 13th Parliamentary Election on February 12. Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League, the country’s largest party, has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections.
This election marks a critical return to democratic governance under the supervision of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. With over 127 million eligible voters, this is being hailed as the “biggest democratic process of 2026”.
Here’s a list of parties and alliances participating in the February 12 Bangladesh elections.
Bangladesh National Party (BNP)
Led by Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, the Bangladesh National Party has fielded 288 candidates for the upcoming elections. While the party wants to make a comeback, it faces tough competition from political rivals. In alliance with other parties and independent candidates, the BNP will contest on 300 seats in total.
11 Party Alliance
The 11 Party Alliance, led by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, comprises the following parties: Bangladesh Khelafar Majlis, National Citizen Party, Amar Bangladesh Party, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Liberal Democratic Party, Nizam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Development Party, and the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party. It will be contesting on a total of 298 seats.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh
Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by Syed Rezaul Karim since 2008, will contest 253 seats in the country.
The National Democratic Front, an alliance led by the Jatiya Party (Ershad), has fielded a total of 206 candidates in the country. While Jatiya Party (Ershad) will contest on 195 seats, the Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijodha, Bangladesh Muslim League and the Jatiya Party (Manju) will fight on 20, 17 and 10 seats respectively.
The Democratic United Front, which comprises the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Social Party of Bangladesh, the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) and the Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, will contest on 149 seats in the upcoming elections.
Greater Sunni Alliance
The Greater Sunni Alliance, led by the Bangladesh Islami Front, with 26 candidates, will be contesting on a total of 64 seats. The other members – the Bangladesh Supreme Party and the Islamic Front Bangladesh will both contest on 19 seats.
The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
Core Team
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.
Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.
Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
Share
The Sheikh Hasina led Awami League has been barred from participating in the upcoming Bangladesh elections. (AI generated) 
