by Naim-Ul-Karim
DHAKA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Campaigning for Bangladesh's 13th parliamentary election began nationwide Thursday, as thousands of candidates in a neck-and-neck race canvassed voters ahead of the Feb. 12 polls, which will coincide with a referendum.
With nearly 2,000 candidates in the race, including 1,732 from 51 registered political parties, the campaign has moved into a phase of direct voter contact: door-to-door canvassing, neighborhood walks, street rallies, and mass public meetings.
Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) has set the campaign schedule to end 48 hours before voting begins on Feb. 12.
The candidates competing for the South Asian country's 300 parliamentary seats include 288 from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), 224 from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, 32 from the National Citizen Party (NCP), 192 from the Jatiya Party and 249 independent candidates, according to the EC.
This time, Bangladesh's general election is different from past ones because voters will not merely choose their representatives but also vote in a referendum on important constitutional reforms. These changes are aimed at strengthening the country's democratic system and rebalancing powers within the government.
As election campaigning commenced on Thursday, major parties, including the BNP, Jamaat, and the NCP, all held major rallies in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country to mark their official launch.
The BNP's campaign began on Thursday morning in northeastern Sylhet city. In the capital Dhaka, the NCP and Jamaat also staged their campaigns.
The country's election authorities last month said that more than 127 million voters had been registered for the election for the first time since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country in August 2024.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday, the Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, urged citizens to endorse the Feb. 12 referendum, framing it as a pivotal moment for the nation's future.
He stated that doing so would empower citizens to shape a new Bangladesh according to their aspirations. "Your 'Yes' vote is the key to building the country you envision," he said. "I encourage everyone to cast their ballot, motivate others to participate, and help bring about this transformation."
Yunus explained that the referendum seeks public approval for the "July National Charter 2025," a reform framework developed through consensus among major political parties. ■