From the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991, Bangladesh has a fading two-party system, which means that two political parties dominate the general elections, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of another party. Since 2026, two dominant parties are Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
History
The current parliamentary system in the country was established in 1991 and is modelled after the Westminster system. Before this, the nation experienced a period of military rule from 1975 to 1990. In response to demands from the two major political parties, the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a caretaker government was introduced in 1990 following the resignation of military ruler Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed was appointed as the Chief Advisor and oversaw the 1991 general election.
The caretaker government is led by a Chief Advisor who holds powers similar to those of a regular prime minister, except for defense matters. The Advisors function in roles akin to ministers. Following the 1991 elections, caretaker governments also facilitated the elections in 1996, 2001, and 2008. Initially intended to support the transition from authoritarianism to democracy, the caretaker system was institutionalized in 1996 by the Sixth Parliament due to increasing mistrust between the BNP and AL.
In 2011, the Awami League, then in power, abolished the caretaker government system. This decision has since been a significant point of contention between Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party, contributing to ongoing political disputes.
Composition of the Parliament
The Jatiya Sangsad is made up of 350 members, 300 members were elected by direct votes, and 50 women members were elected by the parties according to their popular voting percentage in the general election.
<br>File:13th Jatiya Sangsad.svg
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party
! rowspan="2" |Leader
! rowspan="2" |Ideology
! rowspan="2" |Political<br/>position
! rowspan="2" |MPs
! colspan="4" |Local governments
! rowspan="2" |Alliance
! rowspan="2" |Parliamentary<br/>position
|-
!Cities
!Upazila
!Municipalities
!Villages
|-
|
|Tarique Rahman
|
|Centre to<br/>centre-right
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|BNP+
|
|-
|
|Shafiqur Rahman
|
|Right-wing to far-right
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|11 Parties
|
|-
|
|Nahid Islam
|
|Centre
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|11 Parties
|
|-
|
|Mamunul Haque
|
|Far-right
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|11 Parties
|
|-
|
|Syed Rezaul Karim
|
|Far-right
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|
|
|-
|
|Abdul Basit Azad
|
|Far-right
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|11 Parties
|
|-
|
|Nurul Haque Nur
|
|Centre
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|BNP+
|
|-
|
|Zonayed Saki
|Egalitarianism
|
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|BNP+
|
|-
|
|Andaleeve Rahman
|Bangladeshi nationalism
|
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|BNP+
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|vacant
|vacant
|
|
|
|}
Coalitions
Democratic United Front
The Democratic United Front () is a coalition of ten left-wing political parties. It was formed on 29 November 2025. Four of the member parties – the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), and the Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal – are registered with the Bangladesh Election Commission. The remaining six parties are unregistered.
National Democratic Front
The National Democratic Front (Bengali: জাতীয় গণতান্ত্রিক ফ্রন্ট, romanised: Jātīẏô Gôṇôtāntrik Phrônṭ, abbreviated: NDF) is a Bangladeshi multi-party political alliance led by the Anisul faction of the Jatiya Party (Ershad) and the Jatiya Party (Manju). It was founded on 8 December 2025, ahead of the 2026 general election.
11 Party Alliance
The 11 Party Alliance (), simply referred to as the 11 Parties, is a big tent electoral alliance of eleven political parties. The alliance is led by the Jamaat-e-Islami. The parties competed in the 2026 general election against the 10 party coalition of BNP.
The Islami Andolan Bangladesh withdrew from the alliance, expressing dissatisfaction with the seat agreement.
Defunct Coalitions
Grand Alliance
The Grand Alliance () was an alliance of political parties in Bangladesh that was formed in 2008. It consist of the Awami League, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Workers Party,
Liberal Democratic Party,
Jatiya Party (Manju),
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation,
Ganatantri Dol,
Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) (Barua) and
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.
The Liberal Democratic Party left the Grand Alliance before the election and contested independently. It joined the 18 Party Alliance in 2012.
20 Party Alliance
The 20 Party Alliance was a Bangladeshi big tent political coalition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). It was originally formed as the 18 Party Alliance on 18 April 2012 in Dhaka, extending its predecessor the 4 Party Alliance. The 18 Party Alliance was formed in an effort to strengthen the opposition's demands for restoring the caretaker government system used between 1996 and 2008. The main rival of this alliance is the Grand Alliance, led by Awami League, which came into power after the election in 2008.
Ganatantra Manch
Ganatantra Manch () was a political alliance consisting of six political parties in Bangladesh. The alliance announced its formation on 8 August 2024 and consisted of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab), the Nagorik Oikko, the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, the Bhasani Anusari Parishad, the Rastro Songskar Andolon and the Ganosanhati Andolan. The Gono Odhikar Parishad was initially with the alliance, but in May 2023, they left the alliance. The coalition effectively ceased to function after Rashtra Sanskar Andolon and several allied parties withdrew and began pursuing a new alliance with National Citizen Party.
Left Democratic Alliance
The Left Democratic Alliance is an alliance of six leftist political parties including Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh.
United Front
The United Front was a coalition of political parties in East Bengal that contested and won Pakistan's first provincial general election to the East Bengal Legislative Assembly. The coalition consisted of the Awami Muslim League, the Krishak Praja Party, the Ganatantri Dal (Democratic Party), and Nizam-e-Islam.
Registered parties
These are all the parties that are currently registered under Election Commission.
<!-- DO NOT ADD AWAMI LEAGUE THEY ARE NO LONGER REGISTERED -->
{| class="wikitable sortable col6center"
|-
!
! Colspan="3"| Name
! Founded
! class=unsortable | Symbol
! class=unsortable | Flag
! class="unsortable" | Leader
! class="unsortable" | Ideology
! Political position
|-
| 1
!
| LDP
| Liberal Democratic Party<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|2006
| 50px
| center|100px
| Oli Ahmed
| Economic liberalism<br>National conservatism
| Centre-right
|-
| 2
!
| JP-M
| Jatiya Party (Manju)<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
|
| center|100px
| Anwar Hossain Manju
| Bangladeshi nationalism<br>Conservatism
| Centre-right
|-
| 3
!
| BSD-ML
| Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal<br/><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1973
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Dilip Barua
| Communism<br>Marxism–Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 4
!
| KSJL
| Krishak Sramik Janata League<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Abdul Kader Siddique
| Mujibism
|
|-
| 5
!
| CPB
| Communist Party of Bangladesh<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1968
| 60px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Shah Alam
| Communism<br>Marxism-Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 7
!
| BNP
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1978
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Tarique Rahman
| Conservatism<br>Liberalism<br>Economic liberalism
| Centre to
|-
| 8
!
| GP
| Ganatantri Party<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1990
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Md. Arash Ali
| Secularism
|
|-
| 9
!
| NAP
| National Awami Party<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1967
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Amina Ahmed
| Socialism
| Left-wing
|-
| 10
!
| WPB
| Workers Party of Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1980
|
| center|100px
| Rashed Khan Menon
| Communism<br>Marxism-Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 11
!
| BDB
| Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2004
|
| center|100px
|
| Bangladeshi nationalism<br>Conservatism
| Centre
|-
| 12
!
| JP-E
| Jatiya Party (Ershad)<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1986
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| GM Quader
| Bangladeshi nationalism<br>Conservatism
| Centre-right
|-
| 13
!
| JASAD
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1972
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Hasanul Haq Inu
| Bangladeshi nationalism
| Centre-left
|-
| 14
|
| BJI
| Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1948
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Shafiqur Rahman
|
| Far-right
|-
| 15
!
| JSD
| Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab)<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2002
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| A. S. M. Abdur Rab
| Socialism
| Left-wing
|-
| 16
!
| ZP
| Zaker Party<br> <small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1989
| 40px|class=skin-invert-image
|
| Mustafa Amir Faisal
| Sufism
| Right-wing
|-
| 17
!
| SPB
| Socialist Party of Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1980
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Bazlur Rashid Firoz
| Communism<br>Marxism-Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 18
!
| BJP
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2001
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Andaleeve Rahman
| Bangladeshi nationalism
| Centre
|-
| 19
!
| BTF
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2005
|
|
| Syed Najibul Bashar
| Sufism (Maizbhandarism)<br> Secularism
| Right-wing
|-
| 20
!
| BKF
| Khilafat Andolan<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1981
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Habibullah Miazi
| Islamism
| Far-right
|-
| 21
!
| BML
| Bangladesh Muslim League<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1906
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Mohsin Rashid
| Muslim nationalism
| Far-right
|-
| 22
!
| NPP
| National People's Party<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Sheikh Salauddin Salu
|Bangladeshi nationalism
| Centre-left
|-
| 23
!
| JUI
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;"|1972
| 50px
| center|100px
| Ubaydullah Faruq
| Islamism
| Far-right
|-
| 24
!
| GF
| Gano Forum<br /><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1992
|
| center|100px
| Subrata Chowdhury
| Secularism
| Centre
|-
| 25
!
| GF
| Gano Front<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1995
| 50px
| center|100px
| Md. Akmal Hossain
| Democratic socialism<br>Secularism
| Left-wing
|-
| 27
!
| BNAP
| Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bhasani)<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2006
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Jebel Rahman Ghaani
| Socialism
|Left-wing
|-
| 28
!
| BJP
| Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Mukit)<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2003
|
|
| M. A. Mukit
|
|
|-
| 30
!
| IFB
| Islamic Front Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1990
|
| center|100px
| Bahadur Shah Mujaddedi
| Mujaddedism
|Far-right
|-
| 31
!
| BKP
| Bangladesh Kalyan Party<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2007
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Syed Muhammad Ibrahim
| Islamic democracy<br>Bangladeshi nationalism<br>Economic liberalism
|Centre-right
|-
| 32
!
| IOJ
| Islami Oikya Jote<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1990
| 40px|class=skin-invert-image
|
| Abdul Qadir
| Islamism
| Far-right
|-
| 33
!
| BKM
| Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1989
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Mamunul Haque
| Islamism
| Far-right
|-
| 34
!
| IAB
| Islami Andolan Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1987
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Syed Rezaul Karim
| Islamism<br>Islamic fundamentalism
| Far-right
|-
| 35
!
| BIF
| Bangladesh Islami Front<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1990
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| M. A. Matin
| Islamic fundamentalism
|Far-right
|-
| 36
!
| JAGPA
| Jatiya Ganotantrik Party<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1980
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
|
|
| Centre-right
|-
| 37
!
| BBWP
| Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2004
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Saif Ul Haque
| Communism<br>Marxism-Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 38
!
| KM
| Khelafat Majlis<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1989
| 30px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Abdul Basit Azad
| Islamism
|Far-right
|-
| 40
!
| BML
| Bangladesh Muslim League-BML<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1982
|
|
| A. H. M. Kamruzzaman
| Muslim nationalism
|
|-
| 41
!
| Muktijote
| Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2000
| 18px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Abu Layes Munna
|
|
|-
| 42
!
| BNF
| Bangladesh Nationalist Front<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2012
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| M. A. Abul Kalam Azad
| Secularism
|
|-
| 43
!
| NDM
| Nationalist Democratic Movement<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2017
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Bobby Hajjaj
| Bangladeshi nationalism
|
|-
| 44
!
| BC
| Bangladesh Congress<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2013
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Kazi Rezaul Hossain
| Economic liberalism
|Centre-right
|-
| 45
! style="background:#0F4031;" |
| Trinomool<br/>BNP
| Trinomool BNP<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2015
| 40px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Antara Selima Huda
| Grassroots Democracy
| Centre-right
|-
| 46
! style="background:#009E60;" |
| Insaniyat
| Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh<br><small></small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2010
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Allama Imam Hayat
|
|
|-
| 47
!
| BJSAD
| Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal<br><small>বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় সমাজতান্ত্রিক দল-জাসদ</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2023
| 60px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Sharif Nurul Ambia
| Socialism
| Left-wing
|-
| 48
! style="background:#1CAE00;" |
| BNM
| Bangladesh Nationalist Movement<br><small>বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী আন্দোলন</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2023
| 40px
| center|100px
| Abdur Rahman
| Bangladeshi nationalism
|
|-
| 49
!
| BSP
| Bangladesh Supreme Party<br><small>বাংলাদেশ সুপ্রিম পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2019
| 50px
| center|100px
| Sayed Saifuddin Ahmed
| Sufism (Maizbhandarism)
| Right-wing
|-
| 50
! style="background:#CD9D00;" |
| AB<br/>Party
| Amar Bangladesh Party<br><small>আমার বাংলাদেশ পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2020
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan Monju
|
| Far-right
|-
| 51
| style="background:#02694B;" ! |
| GOP
| Gono Odhikar Parishad<br><small>গণঅধিকার পরিষদ-জিওপি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2021
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Nurul Haque Nur
| Progressivism
| Centre
|-
| 52
! style="background:orange" |
| NO
| Nagorik Oikko<br><small>নাগরিক ঐক্য</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2012
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Mahmudur Rahman Manna
|
| Centre
|-
| 53
| bgcolor="black" |
| GSA
| Ganosanhati Andolan<br><small>গণসংহতি আন্দোলন</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2002
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Zonayed Saki
| Egalitarianism
|
|-
| 54
| style="background:#008000;" |
| BDP
| Bangladesh Development Party<br><small>বাংলাদেশ ডেভেলপমেন্ট পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2022
| 50px
| center|100px
| Anwarul Islam Chand
|
| Centre-right
|-
| 55
| style="background:#FF9933;" |
| BMJP
| Bangladesh Minority Janata Party<br/><small>বাংলাদেশ মাইনরিটি জনতা পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2017
|
|
| Sukriti Kumar Mondal
| Minority interests
|
|-
| 56
!
| NCP
| National Citizen Party<br/><small>জাতীয় নাগরিক পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |2025
| 40px|class=skin-invert-image
| center|100px
| Nahid Islam
|
| Centre or Right-wing
|-
| 57
|
| BLP
| Bangladesh Labour Party<br/><small>বাংলাদেশ লেবার পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align:center;" |1974
| 40px|class=skin-invert-image
|center|100px
| Mostafizur Rahman Iran
| Bangladeshi nationalism
| Centre
|-
| 58
|
| BRP
| Bangladesh Republican Party<br><small>বাংলাদেশ রিপাবলিকান পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2014
|50px|class=skin-invert-image
|center|100px
| K. M. Abu Hanif Hridoy
|
|
|-
| 59
|
| SPBM
| Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist)<br/><small>বাংলাদেশের সমাজতান্ত্রিক দল (মার্কসবাদী)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2013
|50px|class=skin-invert-image
|100px
| Mubinul Haider Chowdhury
| Communism<br>Marxism-Leninism
| Far-left
|-
| 60
|
| JD
| Janotar Dol<br><small>জনতার দল</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
|
| Md. Shamim Kamal
|
|
|-
| 61
|
| AD
| Amjanatar Dol<br><small>আমজনতার দল</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
| 50px
|
| Tarek Rahman
|
|
|-
|-
| 62
|
| BEP
| Bangladesh Equal Right Party<br><small>বাংলাদেশ সমঅধিকার পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
|
|center|100px
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 63
|
| BNIP
| Bangladesh Nizam-e-Islam Party<br><small>বাংলাদেশ নেজামে ইসলাম পার্টি</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
| 50px|class=skin-invert-image
| 100px
| Sarwar Kamal Azizi
| Islamism
|Far-right
|-
| Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party
|style="text-align:center;"|1971
|
|Anwar Kabir
|Far-left
|Banned
|
|-
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League
|style="text-align:center;"|1975
|Mujibism
|Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
|Big tent
|Banned
|
|-
|Hizb ut-Tahrir
|style="text-align:center;"|2000
|
|Ata Abu Rashta (global)
|Far-right
|Outlawed
|
|-
| Maoist Bolshevik Reorganization Movement of the Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party
|style="text-align:center;"|2001
|
|
|Far-left
|Outlawed
|
|-
| Kuki-Chin National Front
|style="text-align:center;"|2008
|Kuki-Chin autonomy
|Nathan Bom
|
|Banned
|
|}
Unregistered parties
- Bangladesh Freedom Party
- Bangladesh Justice Party
- Bangladesh Social Democratic Party
- Bangladesh Popular Party
- Bangladesh National Justice Party
- Krishak Sramik Party
- National Revolutionary Council
- Nation State Movement
- Bangala Saltanat Harakat
- Muslim Bangali Resistance Council
Defunct parties
- Awami League (Mizan)
- Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (1983–1991)
- Bangladesh National Congress
- Islamic Democratic League
- Jatiya League
See also
- Politics of Bangladesh
- List of political parties by country