| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
5 January 2014 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its allies, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took a total of 245 seats of the 300 seats at stake. The elections were boycotted by an 18-party opposition alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Due to the boycott, a total of 153 seats were decided uncontested. The Jatiya Party led by former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad took 34 seats.
The 2014 elections were the first to be held after the Constitution was amended in 2011, abolishing the provision to set up a caretaker government to organize national elections. The BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had argued unsuccessfully for the restoration of the caretaker government provision prior to the elections. In November 2013, Prime Minister Hasina installed an "all-party" interim government comprising only the AL and its allies, under her leadership. BNP leader Zia said such a government would undermine the fairness of the process and announced that the BNP would boycott the elections.
During the election campaigning, Prime Minister Hasina promised to build a "poverty and hunger-free developed prosperous country". The Jatiya Party argued that elections would not be credible if many political parties did not participate, and withdrew in early December. However, it later re-joined the elections, pledging to uphold Islamic values. Protests continued through to polling day. At least 21 people were killed and over 100 polling centres were set on fire in the run-up to the elections and on the day itself.
Note:
The breakdown of the seats won by the AL-led Alliance:
- Bangladesh Awami League (AL) (232 seats)
- Bangladesh Workers Party (6 seats)
- Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) (5 seats)
- Bangladesh Tarikat Federation (2 seats) |
Date of previous elections: 29 December 2008
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 24 January 2014
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: January 2019
Number of seats at stake: 300 (full renewal)*
*Elections were held only for 147 seats since 153 were decided uncontested.
Number of candidates: 380*
*For the 147 contested seats.
Percentage of women candidates: Not available.
Number of parties contesting the election: 12
Number of parties winning seats: 7
Alternation of power: No
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 29 January 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury (Bangladesh Awami League, AL) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 5 January 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
92'007'113
47'262'168 (51.37%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jatiya Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bangladesh Workers Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jatiya Party-JP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
General seats |
Women seats |
|
|
| Bangladesh Awami League (AL) |
273
|
234 |
39 |
|
|
| Jatiya Party |
40
|
34 |
6 |
|
|
| Independents |
19
|
16 |
3 |
|
|
| Bangladesh Workers Party |
7
|
6 |
1 |
|
|
| Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) |
6
|
5 |
1 |
|
|
| Jatiya Party-JP |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Bangladesh Tarikat Federation |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
281
69
19.71%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Parliament (30.01.2014, 03.04.2014, 17.04.2014, 01.01.2015, 26.01.2015, 01.01.2017)
http://www.idea.int/vt/countryview.cfm?id=20
Note:
- As at 17 April 2014, there were 69 women (19 under the general seats and 50 under the reserved seats for women) out of a total of 348 members.
- The two remaining seats went to male candidates from the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), giving it a total of 273 seats out of the full 350 members. The number of women thus remained at 69. Three women, elected under the reserved seats for women as independents, subsequently joined the AL, giving the party a total of 276 seats: 234 general seats and 42 reserved seats for women.
- Following the death of three male members (two from the AL and one from the Jatiya Party), by-elections were held on 22 June, 8 July and 3 December 2014. One of the seats went to the widow of the deceased MP, bringing the total number of women to 70 out of the full 350 members (20 under the general seats and 50 under the reserved seats for women).
- Both parties retained their seats in the by-elections. The number of seats held by each party remained unchanged after the by-elections. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
