Dhaka, Feb. 11 -- Three candidates are contesting in the parliamentary election from behind bars, highlighting an unusual facet of the race as voting approaches.

Two of the contenders are being held in Faridpur District Jail, while the third remains in custody at the Special Central Jail in Keraniganj.

Two of the jailed candidates are running from the same constituency in Gopalganj.

The candidates are former Jatiya Party lawmaker Golam Kibria Tipu, Gono Odhikar Parishad's Kabir Mia, and independent candidate Ashraful Alam Shimul.

The parliamentary election and a referendum are set to be held simultaneously on Thursday, two years after the last polls.

In this post-July Uprising election, a total of 2,028 candidates are contesting in 2...