Dhaka, Feb. 8 -- A total of 2,034 candidates are contesting in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12.

Md Saiful Islam, director (Operations) of the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission (EC) and Member Secretary of the Central Coordination Committee for the polls and referendum, said that among them, 275 candidates are running independently.

According to EC sources, 51 political parties are participating in the election. Of these, BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates, with 291 contesting under the paddy sheaf symbol, reports BSS.

Besides, Islami Andolon Bangladesh has nominated the second highest number of candidates, with 258 contestants run...