Political Parties of Bangladesh

Bangladesh's political system functions as a parliamentary democracy that holds open elections for all citizens over 18 years of age, where the head of the government is Prime Minister is the head of the government while controlling party or the elected members of the parliament votes for the President, the largely symbolic head of Bangladesh. Executive power is exercised by an elected government and Legislative power is exercised by both the government and parliament. Bangladesh's political scene has been chaotic since its independence in 1971. Periods of democratic rule have been interrupted by coups, martial law, and states of emergency.

Although the multi-party system is present in Bangladesh, thus it has a fading two-party or two alliances. It is very difficult for anyone to win an election under the banner of another party, which is not part of those two Alliances. Those two alliances are 14 Party Alliance lead by center-left Awami League and 18 Party Alliance lead by center-right BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) and Islamist Jammat E Islami.

Bangladesh Awami League

Awami League was founded in Dhaka in 1949 when it was the capital of East Pakistan, a former province of Pakistan. It was founded by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Shamsul Huq, and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The party gained huge popularity in a very short time. Awami League led the forces of Bengali nationalism in the struggle against West Pakistan's military and political establishment. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Awami League lead the struggle for independence of Bangladesh, first through massive populist and civil disobedience movements, and then during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. After the liberation war, which resulted as the creation of an Independent Bangladesh, Awami League won the first general election in 1973 but was overthrown in 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After that, several military regimes forced the party into the political wilderness. After the restoration of democracy in 1990, the party led by Sheikh Hasina emerged as one of the two dominant political parties in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

BNP was founded in 1978 by Major General Ziaur Rahman, who was at that time was the President of Bangladesh under a military regime. The BNP has ruled Bangladesh for a total of 14 years and four terms since it was established (1978-1982, 1991-1996, 1996, 2001-€“2006). Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981. Khaleda Zia, three times Prime Minister (1991-1996, 1996, 2001-2006) and the first female to hold the position is leading the party since then. BNP formed a 7-party alliance in 1986. The alliance especially BNP gained huge popularity when they boycott the 1986 election held by a military regime led by Hossain Mohammed Ershad, where Awami League also declared to boycott but later participated. That election was widely criticized as an unfair election. After the election, a nationwide political movement began demanding the resignation of President Ershad. Eventually, Ershad resigned in December 1990. In a fair election in 1991, the BNP won the majority of the seats in parliament. On February 1996, the BNP held a general election, which was boycotted by all other major political parties on demand for an election under a caretaker government. The BNP won the election, though the parliament only lasted for a few weeks. After that BNP eventually transferred power to an interim caretaker government, which held the election three months later. In that election, BNP positioned second. In 1998 BNP joined the four-party alliance, which won the 2001 election.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Jamaat-e-Islami was created in 1941 in British India by Maulana Abul A-€™la Maududi. This party stood against the independence of Bangladesh and opposed the break-up of Pakistan. It collaborated with the Pakistani Army in its operations against Bangladesh (In that time East Pakistan). Its members, led the Shanti Committee, Razakar and Al-Badr paramilitary forces that were implicated in war crimes, such as mass murders, destroying and looting private properties, and rapes. Upon the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the Bangladesh government banned Jamaat-e-Islami from political participation and its leaders went into exile in Pakistan. The ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami was lifted and its leaders were allowed to return in the Military Regime of Ziaur Rahman. In the 1980s, the Jamaat joined the multi-party alliance for the restoration of democracy. It later joined the alliance led by the BNP, which eventually won the general election of 2001. Two Jamaat Leaders became the ministers of that period.

Jatiya Party (JP - Ershad)

Jatiya party was founded by Hussain Mohammad Ershad on 1st January 1986, who was at that time was the President of Bangladesh under a military regime. Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad had usurped the state power by a military coup on 24th March 1982 and declared himself as chief martial law administrator. All activities of political parties were banned and declared a state of emergency. Ershad wanted more civilian influence and decided to develop a political party to represent his government, that i€™s the reason he founded the Jatiya Party. Ershad declares general election in 1986, though Awami League and BNP first declare to boycott the election. However, Awami League later participated in that election where the Jatiya Party gained the majority. Election's fairness was questioned nationally and internationally, which began the political movement demanding the resignation of President Ershad. Eventually, Ershad resigned in December 1990. In the general election of 1991, the Jatiya Party emerged as the third force by securing 35 seats in the parliament. In the 1996 election, Jatiya Party gave support to Awami League to form the government. Though, Ershad than going against Awami League, and joined 4 party alliance led by the BNP. However, Ershad left the alliance and formed a new alliance Islamic Jatiyo Oikko Front, which participated in the 2001 election. Ershad formed an alliance with Awami League in 2006, which won the general election in 2008.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP)

BJP is a splinter-group of the original Jatiya Party, which was established by Hossain Mohammed Ershad. BJP was founded by Naziur Rahman Manjur, who was serving as the Local Government, Rural Development [LGRD] Minister and Mayor of Dhaka under Ershad's government. He was also served as the secretary general of the Ershad lead Jatiya Party. When the Ershad led the Jatiya Party decided to leave the four-party alliances, Manjur formed the BJP to remain in the alliance. The party is now led by Barrister Aandaleeve Rahman Partho, son of Manjur.

Communist Party of Bangladesh

Communist Party of Bangladesh founded in 1968 as the Communist Party of East Pakistan. It was first founded as the Communist Party of India (CPI). After the portions of India, the members coming from Pakistan (which included what now constitutes Bangladesh as East Pakistan) met on March 6, 1948, in a separate session and decided to form the Communist Party of Pakistan. In 1968, the eastern wing of the country declared itself a separate party as the Communist Party of East Pakistan. The Party played a vital role in the struggle against West Pakistan's military and political establishment, mainly 1969 uprising and the non-co-operation movement in 1971. The Party also actively participated in the liberation war.

Liberal Democratic Party

The Liberal Democratic Party was formed on October 26, 2006, by former President of Bangladesh Dr. A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr. Oli Ahmad, and 24 other former Members of Parliament and ministers from the BNP. Though, in a few months after forming Badruddoza Chowdhury left the party with his followers.

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh was founded by former President of Bangladesh and BNP parliamentarian Dr. A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury in 2004, when he was forced to abdicate his Presidency by his own party members.

Workers Party of Bangladesh

Workers Party of Bangladesh founded in 1980 by the Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist), Revolutionary Communist League, Majdur Party, and another group.

Islami Oikya Jote

Islami Oikya Jote was formed by Islamist Political parties in Bangladesh. It joined the four-party alliances and participated in the 2001 election collaborating with them.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh was formed in comprising the teachers of more than one hundred Kawmi madrasas at Chittagong in 2010. It was founded to protest against what is considered to be the anti-Islamic policies of the Bangladesh government. The main founders of this party are Ahmad Shafi and Mufti Izharul Islam.