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Fromthe restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991, until theJuly Revolution,Bangladesh had a fadingtwo-party system, which means that two political parties dominate the general elections, theBangladesh Awami League and theBangladesh Nationalist Party, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of another party.
The current parliamentary system in the country was established in 1991 and is modelled after theWestminster 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, theAwami League (AL) and theBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a caretaker government was introduced in 1990 following the resignation of military rulerLieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Chief JusticeShahabuddin 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.[1]
Bangladeshi parliament 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 general election, but after theJuly Revolution, the Parliament was dissolved by the president on 6 August 2024.[2]
TheDemocratic United Front (Bengali:গণতান্ত্রিক যুক্তফ্রন্ট) is a coalition of tenleft-wing political parties. It was formed on 29 November 2025.[3] Four of the member parties – theCommunist Party of Bangladesh,Socialist Party of Bangladesh,Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), and theBangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal – are registered with theBangladesh Election Commission. The remaining six parties are unregistered.[4]
TheNational Democratic Front (Bengali: জাতীয় গণতান্ত্রিক ফ্রন্ট,romanised:Jātīẏô Gôṇôtāntrik Phrônṭ, abbreviated:NDF) is a Bangladeshimulti-party political alliance led by theAnisul faction of theJatiya Party (Ershad) and theJatiya Party (Manju). It was founded on 8 December 2025, ahead of the2026 general election.[5][6][7]
The11 Party Alliance (Bengali:১১ দলীয় জোট), simply referred to as the11 Parties, is abig tent electoral alliance of eleven political parties. The alliance is led by theJamaat-e-Islami. The parties are competing in the2026 general election against the 10 party coalition ofBNP.[8][9][10]
TheIslami Andolan Bangladesh withdrew from the alliance, expressing dissatisfaction with the seat agreement.[11][12]
TheGrand Alliance (Bengali:মহাজোট) is an alliance of political parties in Bangladesh that was formed in 2008. It consist of theAwami 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) andBikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.
TheLiberal Democratic Party left the Grand Alliance before the election and contested independently. It joined the18 Party Alliance in 2012.
The20 Party Alliance was a Bangladeshibig tent political coalition led by theBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[13] It was originally formed as the18 Party Alliance on 18 April 2012 inDhaka, extending its predecessor the4 Party Alliance.[14] The 18 Party Alliance was formed in an effort to strengthen the opposition's demands for restoring thecaretaker government system used between 1996 and 2008.[15] The main rival of this alliance is theGrand Alliance, led byAwami League, which came into power after the election in 2008.
Ganatantra Manch (Bengali:গণতন্ত্র মঞ্চ) is apolitical alliance consisting of six political parties inBangladesh. The alliance announced its formation on 8 August 2024[16][17][18] and consists of theJatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab), the Nagrik Oikya, theRevolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, the Bhasani Anusari Parishad, the Rastro Songskar Andolon and theGanosanhati Andolan.[19][20] TheGono Odhikar Parishad was initially with the alliance, but in May 2023, they left the alliance. Among them, only the JSD (Rab) and the Revolutionary Workers Party are registered with theBangladesh Election Commission.[21] The coalition effectively ceased to function after Rashtra Sanskar Andolon and several allied parties withdrew and began pursuing a new alliance withNational Citizen Party.[22]
TheLeft Democratic Alliance is an alliance of six leftist political parties includingCommunist Party of Bangladesh,Socialist Party of Bangladesh,Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist),Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh.[23]
TheUnited Front was a coalition of political parties inEast Bengal that contested and wonPakistan's first provincial general election to theEast Bengal Legislative Assembly. The coalition consisted of theAwami Muslim League, theKrishak Praja Party, theGanatantri Dal (Democratic Party), andNizam-e-Islam.
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These are all the parties that are currently registered underElection Commission.[24]
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | Political position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCJSS | Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম জনসংহতি সমিতি | 1972 | Autonomy of the indigenous tribes of theChittagong Hill Tracts | Shantu Larma | Left-wing | |
| UPDF | United People's Democratic Front ইউনাইটেড পিপলস ডেমোক্রেটিক ফ্রন্ট | 1998 | Autonomy of the indigenous tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts | Prasit Bikash Khisa | Left-wing | |
| PCJSS-MN Larma | Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (MN Larma) | 2007 | Autonomy of the indigenous tribes of theChittagong Hill Tracts | Juddho Chakma | Left-wing | |
| UPDF-Democratic | United People's Democratic Front (Democratic) | 2017 | Autonomy of the indigenous tribes of theChittagong Hill Tracts | Tapan Jyoti Chakma | Left-wing | |
| Name | Founded | Ideology | Leader | Political position | Legal status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awami League | 1949 | Sheikh Hasina | Big tent | Suspended | ||
| Purba Banglar Communist Party | 1968 | Tipu Biswas | Far-left | Banned | [30] | |
| Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party | 1971 | Anwar Kabir | Far-left | Banned | [31] | |
| Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League | 1975 | Mujibism | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | Big tent | Banned | [32] |
| Hizb ut-Tahrir | 2000 | Ata Abu Rashta (global) | Far-right | Outlawed | [33] | |
| Maoist Bolshevik Reorganization Movement of the Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party | 2001 | Far-left | Outlawed | [34][35] | ||
| Kuki-Chin National Front | 2008 | Kuki-Chinautonomy | Nathan Bom | Banned | [36][37] |
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Ideologically these are the parties of the far-right who have always collaborated with the exploiting classes.
Ideologically these are the parties of the far-right who have always collaborated with the exploiting classes.
