A total of 1,967 candidates will contest in Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election after 305 contenders withdrew their nominations on the final day for withdrawal, according to the Election Commission. The Commission will allocate election symbols to candidates today, with registered parties receiving their official symbols and independents choosing from approved options. Campaigning will officially begin tomorrow and continue until the morning of February 10, ahead of the February 12 parliamentary election and national referendum, both to be held on the same day.

Among the remaining candidates are 290 from the BNP, 216 from Jamaat-e-Islami, 259 from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 196 from Jatiya Party, 30 from the National Citizens Party, and 92 from Gano Adhikar Parishad. Over 300 independents are also contesting, including several BNP dissidents and expelled Awami League leader Abdul Latif Siddique. The election will feature 49 registered political parties, while 11 others, including the suspended Awami League, are not participating.

The government has launched extensive campaigns urging citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum. For the first time, expatriates and certain domestic voters can cast ballots via online postal registration, with more than 1.53 million already registered.