DHAKA, Feb 10, (V7N) – A total of 12,77,11,899 voters are set to cast their votes in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections and referendum scheduled for February 12, according to Election Commission (EC) sources.

EC data revealed that among the total voters, 6,48,25,154 are male, 6,28,85,525 female, and 1,220 belong to the third gender.

The Election Commission recently cancelled polling in the Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. As a result, voting will be held in 299 constituencies instead of 300.

Among all constituencies, Jhalakathi-1 has the lowest number of voters with 228,431, while Gazipur-2 has the highest with 804,333 voters.

Election Commission National Identity Registration Wing Director (Operations) and Central Coordination Committee Member Secretary Md Saiful Islam told BSS that 51 political parties are participating in the election. The total number of candidates stands at 2,034, including 275 independent candidates.

According to EC sources, the BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates, with 291 contestants running under the Sheaf of Paddy symbol. Islami Andolon Bangladesh follows with 258 candidates under the Hatpakha (Hand Fan) symbol.

Other major parties include Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with 229 candidates under the Daripalla (Scale) symbol, Jatiya Party with 198 candidates under the Plough symbol, and Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) with 32 candidates using the Water Lily Bud symbol.

Among independent contenders, 76 candidates are contesting with the Football symbol.

Voting will take place simultaneously from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm using ballot papers and transparent ballot boxes across all 299 parliamentary constituencies in the country.

END/AIJ/RH