Salient features of previous national elections
Monday, 29 December 2008
The first national election in independent Bangladesh was held on March 7, 1973 where a total of 1,209 candidates, including 120 independents, contested for 300 seats, reports UNB.
Of the total 35,205,642 registered voters, 19,329,683 (54.91%) voters exercised their franchise in the first election with Bangladesh Awami League securing 293 seats while the remaining 7 seats were shared by smaller parties and independents.
The election to 2nd parliament was held on February 28, 1979 with the participation of 2,547 candidates representing 29 parties and alliances as well as independents.
The 3rd parliamentary elections were held on May 7, 1986 where a total of 1,980 candidates representing 28 parties and including 453 independents contested for 300 seats.
Jatiya Party, led by military dictator Hossain Mohammad Ershad, bagged highest 153 seats while Bangladesh Awami League won 73 seats in the 1986 elections. Nearly 66.31% of the 47,876,979 registered voters exercised their franchise.
The 4th parliamentary elections were held on March 3, 1988. The number of candidates totaled 1,192 representing 8 parties and including 214 independents.
The 5th general elections were held on February 27, 1991 with 2,787 candidates, representing 75 parties and including 424 independents, contested for the 300 seats at stake.
The highest 169 seats were bagged by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which formed the government with Khaleda Zia as prime minister. Bangladesh Awami League (AL) secured 92 seats to emerge as the main opposition in parliament while Jatiya Party of HM Ershad won 35 seats.
Voters' turnout was approximately 52 per cent of the registered voters totaling 62,289,556.
The 6th parliamentary elections held on February 15, 1996 were later cancelled as except BNP all the major political parties, including Awami League, boycotted the controversial election. Only 26.54 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the elections contested by 993 candidates with party affiliation and another 457 independents.
In the 7th general elections held on June 12 in 1996 under the caretaker government, a total of 2,574 candidates took part. The candidates represented 81 parties and also included 284 independents. Bangladesh Awami League formed the government securing 146 seats in the election while BNP got 116.
The last general election was held on October 1, 2001 for the 8th parliament. A total of 1,935 candidates representing 54 parties and including 484 independents contested in the polls.
The election was the second to be held under the caretaker government concept, introduced in 1996, with Justice Latifur Rahman as the chief adviser.
BNP won 193 seats while its key political rival Awami League got only 62 seats. Total turnout of voters was nearly 74.9 per cent. The 9th parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 22, 2007, was cancelled after declaration of state of emergency on January 11, 2007 amid political turmoil.
The nation finally goes to the polls today (Monday) to elect the country's 9th Parliament.
Of the total 35,205,642 registered voters, 19,329,683 (54.91%) voters exercised their franchise in the first election with Bangladesh Awami League securing 293 seats while the remaining 7 seats were shared by smaller parties and independents.
The election to 2nd parliament was held on February 28, 1979 with the participation of 2,547 candidates representing 29 parties and alliances as well as independents.
The 3rd parliamentary elections were held on May 7, 1986 where a total of 1,980 candidates representing 28 parties and including 453 independents contested for 300 seats.
Jatiya Party, led by military dictator Hossain Mohammad Ershad, bagged highest 153 seats while Bangladesh Awami League won 73 seats in the 1986 elections. Nearly 66.31% of the 47,876,979 registered voters exercised their franchise.
The 4th parliamentary elections were held on March 3, 1988. The number of candidates totaled 1,192 representing 8 parties and including 214 independents.
The 5th general elections were held on February 27, 1991 with 2,787 candidates, representing 75 parties and including 424 independents, contested for the 300 seats at stake.
The highest 169 seats were bagged by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which formed the government with Khaleda Zia as prime minister. Bangladesh Awami League (AL) secured 92 seats to emerge as the main opposition in parliament while Jatiya Party of HM Ershad won 35 seats.
Voters' turnout was approximately 52 per cent of the registered voters totaling 62,289,556.
The 6th parliamentary elections held on February 15, 1996 were later cancelled as except BNP all the major political parties, including Awami League, boycotted the controversial election. Only 26.54 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the elections contested by 993 candidates with party affiliation and another 457 independents.
In the 7th general elections held on June 12 in 1996 under the caretaker government, a total of 2,574 candidates took part. The candidates represented 81 parties and also included 284 independents. Bangladesh Awami League formed the government securing 146 seats in the election while BNP got 116.
The last general election was held on October 1, 2001 for the 8th parliament. A total of 1,935 candidates representing 54 parties and including 484 independents contested in the polls.
The election was the second to be held under the caretaker government concept, introduced in 1996, with Justice Latifur Rahman as the chief adviser.
BNP won 193 seats while its key political rival Awami League got only 62 seats. Total turnout of voters was nearly 74.9 per cent. The 9th parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 22, 2007, was cancelled after declaration of state of emergency on January 11, 2007 amid political turmoil.
The nation finally goes to the polls today (Monday) to elect the country's 9th Parliament.