A total of 29 out of 44 political parties registered with the Election Commission fielded their aspirants to join the 12th parliamentary elections slated from January 7.
A total of 2,711 aspirants --747 independent candidates and 1,964 from the 29 parties-- submitted nomination papers in 300 parliamentary constituencies, according to the initial estimate of EC secretariat.
Of them, 303 aspirants from Bangladesh Awami League (more than one aspirants in several constituencies), 304 from Jatiya Party, 218 from Jaker Party, 151 from Trinomul BNP, 142 from National Peoples Party-NPP and 116 from Bangladesh Congress.
The candidates also include 91 from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, 82 from Bangladesh Supreme Party, 74 from Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote, 55 from Bangladesh Nationalist Front, 49 from Bangladesh Jatiyabadi Andolan, 47 from Tarikat Federation, 45 from Islami Oikyajote, 39 from Islamic Front Bangladesh, 37 from Bangladesh Islami Front, 34 Krishak Sramik Janata League and 33 from Bangladesh Workers Party.
The remaining contenders are 25 from Ganofront, 20 from Jatiya Party-JP (Manju), 18 from Bangladesh Kalyan Party, 14 each from Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, 13 from Bangladesh Jatiya Party, 12 from Ganatantri Party, 9 from Ganaforum, 6 each from Bangladesh Samybadi Dal and Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP), 5 from Bangladesh Muslim League-BML and 2 from Bangladesh Muslim League.
But the number of candidates may differ slightly after the final estimate as the EC is still working on it.
The 15 political parties that are not running in the 12th parliamentary election are Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal-BNP, Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Bangladesh Communist Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basod, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Biplabi Workers Party, Khelafat Majlish, Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Andolan,Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh and Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.