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Party BNP AL JP JI Zaker Party
Seats 299 263 270 221 247
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The AL's figure doesn't show the 37 seats for which the AL did not
contest as they were allocated to its allies in the 8-party alliance.
Initially, the publicity of the Zaker Party had caused a lot of
concerns. Fortunately it did not win a single seat.
Initial Results: [for 300 seats]
Party BNP AL AL-allies JP JI
Seats 140 88 11 35 18
Popular vote distribution:
Party BNP AL JP JI
Percent 31% 28% 12% 6%
The AL figure does not take into consideration those votes that might
have gone to it had AL contested in all the seats. In first-past-the-
post political systems a slim plurality in the popular vote often
translates into an overwhelming majority. I am ambivalent about this
sytem. It is statistically possible for a party to win a majority in
parliament even if another party received a majority of the popular
votes. But systems like proportional representation often leads to
ineffectual and split parliament. [aka Israel]. In certain countries
the if a candidate fails to receive a majority of votes, then the top
two candidates face off in another election. I am not too sure whether
this would be applicable to Bangladesh because of prohibitive costs.
From the distribution it can be concluded that BNP's support is more
evenly distributed. Even though it received only 3% more votes than the
AL, it appears that in most constituencies tha BNP candidate received
just enough votes to win.
The JI an JP figures appear to look alright. But a closer look brings
up some interesting conclusions.
Popular Vote by Geographic divisions ( In Percentage )
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Major Parties Rajshahi Khulna Dhaka Chittagong
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BNP 26 27 39 31
AL 25 32 35 31
JP 16 8 8 15
JI 20 16 n/a 7
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source : The Daily Star, March 2, 1991.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In Rajshahi and Chittagong BNP and AL are evenly split. In Dhaka BNP
outpolls AL. A major factor in the election had been the overwhelming
support for BNP from the urban population. The figure for Dhaka might
have ben significantly affected by the city of Dhaka. AL appears to have
a bigger pull in Khulna division.
Interestingly, the four parties are extremely close in Rajshahi division.
Both JP and JI doing quite well in the division at the expense of AL and
BNP. JP's figures can be attributed to Ershad's originssl domicile being
in Rangpur. There also appears to be sifnificant fundamentalist segment
in the northern districts.
JI did worst in Chittagong, which is usually considered it's stronhold.
The militancy of JI in the region might have caused voter disaffection. If
this is so, it shows significant electoral maturity. Strongly religious
people will not neccessarily vote for JI. JP on the other hand did well
in Chittagong. There are quite a lot of JP support in Chittagong city.
Both these parties have fared poorly in Khulna and Dhaka divisions.
Further conclusions might be derivable if we look at district wise
seat distribution.
Seats won by districts:
BNP : Bangladesh Nationalist Party
AL : Awami League
JP : Jatiyo Partay
JI : Jamaat-e-Islami
O : Others
I : Independents
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Greater District BNP AL JP JI O I
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Dinajpur 1 6 0 1 3 0
Rangpur 0 3 17 0 2 0
Bogra 8 0 0 1 0 0
Rajshahi 9 5 1 3 0 0
Pabna 9 1 0 2 0 0
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Kushtia 5 2 0 1 0 0
Jessore 5 8 0 1 0 0
Khulna 3 6 0 11 0 0
Barisal 6 6 1 0 2 0
Patuakhali 1 5 0 0 0 1
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Mymensingh 17 12 2 0 0 0
Tangail 5 1 1 0 0 0
Dhaka 33 2 0 0 0 0
Faridpur 1 16 0 0 2 0
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Sylhet 1 7 8 0 3 0
Comilla 17 2 4 0 0 1
Noakhali 6 2 1 0 0 0
Chittagong 13 5 0 0 0 0
CHT 0 3 0 0 0 0
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Comments :
BNP appears to have done quite well in a belt NW->SE starting from
Rajshahi-Bogra to Chittagong. It completely overwhelmed opposition in
Dhaka and Chittagong, both of which have large urban population. Comilla,
Mymensingh and Bogra appears to be strongholds of BNP.. Bogra is under-
standable since Ziaur Rahman was a BNP guy. BNP fared poorly in Sylhet,
CHT, Faridpur,Khulna and Dinajpur.
AL seemed to have an hey-day in Faridpur, the home district of Mujibur
Rahman. It also did well in Sylhet, Patuakhali and took all the seats in CHT.
JP took Rangpur and fared extremely well in Sylhet, getting most
representatives from there. Rangpur being the home district of Ershad
is explanabale. Most of the established Sylheti politicians/businessmen
had put their lot with Ershad during his regime.
JI did not get any seats east of Jamnuna/Padmna divide. It fared well
in the western and southern regions, especially in Khulna.
The home districts of each party leader almost always went to that party.
| The Final Result: 330 Seats |
| Party |
Seats |
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
168 |
| Awami League |
88 |
| Jatiya Party |
35 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami |
20 |
| Communist Party of Bangladesh |
5 |
| National Awami Party [Muzaffar] |
5 |
| Workers Party |
1 |
| Jatiyo Samajtantrik Party [Siraj] |
1 |
| Ganotantri Party |
1 |
| Islami Oikya Jote |
1 |
| National Democratic Party |
1 |
| Independents |
3 |