Members of the same family are contesting as candidates from different parties in at least 46 constituencies in the 12th parliamentary election. Of them, members of the same 17 families are contesting elections in at least 35 constituencies.
In some of these families, husband-wife, siblings or close relatives are contesting against each other as candidates of different parties. And in some 11 constituencies, the children of Awami League leaders have got the election symbol of boat for the first time.
Overall, 23 sitting MPs are from these families. Families of leaders of three parties, including Jatiya Party (JPA), have become candidates on eight electoral seats.
According to political analysts, dynastic politics has gradually become bigger even at the grassroots level. He says this is a result of lack of democratic practices, person-centred politics and lack of trust within political parties.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, writer and researcher Mohiuddin Ahmed said that families dominate everywhere in Bangladesh politics. The ruling party is not alone, the politics of opposition parties also revolves around the same family. Due to this family-centric politics, the practice of free competition is missing in the politics of Bangladesh.