Eight political parties, including several Awami League allies and groups known as the “King’s Party,” have decided to stay out of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Six of these parties have cited the lack of a level playing field and the deteriorating law and order situation as their reasons for not participating in polls, while two parties have made the decision “in support of BNP.”
The two parties – Trinamool BNP and Bangladesh Jatiyabadi Andolan (BNM) – were previously accused of being formed with the intention of undermining BNP.
The other six parties choosing to boycott the elections are Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML), Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, National Awami Party (NAP), and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.
Trinamool BNP and BNM’s U-turn
Trinamool BNP, led by former BNP leader and minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, was formed in 2015. However, the party was officially registered with the Election Commission just a year before the 12th parliamentary elections, in February 2023.
On 19 September 2023, at the party’s first council, BNP dissident leaders Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury and Taimur Alam Khandaker joined the party. Shamsher Mubin was elected the party’s chairperson, while Taimur Alam was elected secretary-general.
In the 12th parliamentary elections, they fielded candidates in 133 constituencies. However, following the mass uprising on 5 August 2024, the two leaders left the party. Currently, the party is led by Nazmul Huda’s daughter, Antora Selima Huda, serving as the acting president, and Major (Retd) Sheikh Habibur Rahman as acting secretary-general.
The current leadership has decided not to participate in the upcoming elections. When asked about this, Sheikh Habibur Rahman told Times of Bangladesh, “In the current political reality, we have faith in Tarique Rahman. It is from this place of trust and support that we have decided not to participate in the elections. We will support BNP.”
When asked whether they were stepping back from the elections due to pressure, he responded, “There is no pressure whatsoever.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Andolan (BNM), formed by former BNP leaders and several military officials, gained registration just five months before the last parliamentary elections, in August 2023. The Election Commission’s decision to register a party that was not active in political activities received strong criticism, and many referred to BNM as a “Kings Party.”
There were also allegations that BNM was formed to involve a faction of BNP in the elections. The party recruited four former BNP MPs into its ranks. In the last election, BNM fielded candidates in 54 constituencies but, citing lack of preparation, has decided not to participate in the upcoming general elections.
“We are not prepared for the elections. We have not yet been able to organise the party properly,” BNM secretary-general Abdur Rahman told Times of Bangladesh.
“There is no pressure. However, we will continue to support nationalist forces,” he added.
What six other parties say
Meanwhile, citing the lack of a level playing field and the deteriorating law and order situation, six political parties, including several allies of the Awami League that participated in previous elections, have decided to boycott the upcoming polls.
Krishak Sramik Janata League, led by Kader Siddique, contested 30 parliamentary seats in the 12th parliament elections. In a press release, the party cited the worsening law and order situation, insecurity regarding lives and property, and the absence of a fair electoral environment for all as reasons for its decision not to participate in the election.
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation contested 38 constituencies in the 2024 election. Led by former Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, the party is an ally of the Awami League. When asked about the reasons for not participating, the party’s acting secretary-general, Mohammad Ali Faruqi, said that there is no level playing field to contest the elections and that fair elections are not possible under the current law and order conditions.
Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML), a member of the 14-party alliance led by Awami League, has also decided to boycott the elections. It has been reported that, following 5 August 2024, the party’s general secretary and former minister, Dilip Barua, has gone into hiding.
In August 2025, during a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, Harun Chowdhury, who claims to be the president of a faction of the party, said, “Dilip Barua was the general secretary of the party, but I don’t know where he is now. I am the party president.”
Bangladesh Workers’ Party, an ally of the Awami League, also cited several reasons for its decision. In a press release, it stated that the Election Commission has lost its impartiality under political pressure, failing to invite the Workers’ Party, along with many other parties, to dialogue, despite their registration.
Additionally, the party pointed out that following the announcement of the election schedule, the law-and-order situation in the country had significantly deteriorated, creating challenges for the electoral process.
When asked about the reasons for not participating, Mohammad Ali Faruqi, general secretary of the Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP), said, “As per the party’s decision, we will not participate in the upcoming election. However, there is no pressure behind this decision.” The party had fielded candidates in five constituencies in the last election.
Similarly, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, which contested ten seats in the previous election, has also decided to boycott the upcoming polls. However, no official comment was received from the party regarding this decision.
