Bangladeshi general election, 2018
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Bangladesh |
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Constitution and law |
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The next Bangladeshi general election will elect the members of the Jatiya Sangsad, the parliament of Bangladesh, on a date to be determined, currently planned either for the third[1] or last[2] week in December.
Barring exceptional circumstances, the Constitution of Bangladesh requires that the elections take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the term of the Jatiya Sangsad.[3][4] The current Sangshad first sat on 29 January 2014,[5][6] so in accordance with article 123(2)(a) of the Constitution, the next election is expected be held on a date between 31 October 2018 and 31 December 2018. Snap elections can be held under certain conditions, such as if a government loses a confidence motion or resigns by dissolving parliament.
Background
The previous general elections, which took place in 2014, were boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. As a result, the Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a walkover, with its candidates declared victors in 127 of the 154 uncontested seats by default.[7] Of the remaining uncontested seats, the Jatiya Party led by Rowshan Ershad won 20, the JSD won three, the Workers Party won two, and the Jatiya Party (Manju) won one.[8]
As a result of violence and the opposition boycott, voter turnout was only 22%.[9][10] Results of 139 seats out of 147 were released, with the Awami League winning 105, the Jatiya Party winning 13, the Workers Party winning four, the JSD winning two and the Tarikat Federation and BNF winning one each.[8] The remaining 8 constituencies election were suspended due to violence and re-election to be held.[8] The newly elected MPs were sworn in on 9 January.[11] Recently The BNP has stated that it is ready to return and stand in the next general election if the current parliament is dissolved and the election commission consists of non-partisan members.[12] Furthermore, Jatiya Party chairman and former President Hussain Ershad has stated that it wishes to leave the Awami League-led Grand Alliance and stand as its own political unity in a new alliance with democratic left and Islamic democratic parties.[13] On 14 September 2017 the Official Chief Election Commissioner had confirmed that the BNP would officially join the election.[14]
Coalitions and alliances
| Coalition | Leader | Members | Seats won in 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Alliance | Sheikh Hasina | Bangladesh Awami League Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal Workers Party Jatiya Party (Manju) Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Bangladesh Nationalist Front |
250 |
| 18 Party Alliance | Khaleda Zia Tarique Rahman |
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Liberal Democratic Party Islami Oikya Jote Khelafat Majlish Bangladesh Jatiya Party Jatiya Ganatantrik Party Bangladesh Kalyan Party National People's Party Bangladesh National Awami Party Jamiote-Olamaye-Islam National Democratic Party Bangladesh Labour Party Bangladesh Muslim League Bangladesh Islamic Party National Awami Party (Bhasani) Democratic League Bangladesh People's League[15] |
0 |
| United National Alliance | Hussain Muhammad Ershad Rowshan Ershad |
Jatiya Party (Ershad) Bangladesh Islami Front Islami Oikya Jote Labour Party People's Democratic Party Jatiya Hindu League Bangladesh Democratic Conference United Muslim League |
34 |
| Left Democratic Alliance | 8 Leftist Political Parties | Communist Party Of Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party Gonoshonghoti Andolon United Communist League of Bangladesh Basad (Marxist) Ganatantrik Biplobi Andolon Samajtantrik Andolon |
0 |
| United Front | A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury A. S. M. Abdur Rab Mahmudur Rahman Manna |
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD Nagorik Oikko Bangladesh |
0 |
References
- ↑ "Bangladesh plans to hold 11th national elections in December". Xinhua. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ↑ "EC plans EVMs for 100 seats". The Daily Star. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ↑ "The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh: 72. Sessions of Parliament". Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ↑ "The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh: 123. Time for holding elections". Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ↑ "Parliament session on Jan 29". bdnews24.com. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ Karim, Mohosinul (13 January 2014). "First session of 10th parliament Jan 29". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ "BBC News - Clashes and boycott mar Bangladesh election". Bbc.co.uk. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Repolls ordered in 8 constituencies". bdnews24.com. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ↑ Barry, Ellen (5 January 2014). "Low Turnout in Bangladesh Elections Amid Boycott and Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ↑ "Bangladesh ruling party wins after boycotted vote". The New York Times. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ↑ "Newly elected Bangladesh MPs sworn in". Al Jazeera English. 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "Fakhrul: General elections will not be allowed without a level playing field". 25 July 2017.
- ↑ "Ershad hopes PM will allow Jatiya Party ministers to resign".
- ↑ "BNP will join national polls: CEC".
- ↑ Afp, Manila (2008-05-19). "Soaring food prices forcing millions of Filipinos into poverty". The Daily Star.