Number of parties in polls to nosedive

The number of political parties participating in the 9th Jatiya Sangsad election is likely to fall to just one quarter of that in the previous election, estimated Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain. The commissioner said Saturday the number of parties in the fray looks to come down significantly as registration has been made compulsory. The number of candidates will also be smaller this time than the previous occasion, as there is no scope for any dissident candidate and strict conditions have been imposed for candidates willing to run independently.
— bdnews24.com