Dhaka, Jan. 9 -- After Sunday's vote returned the largest number of independent candidates in the history of Bangladesh's parliamentary elections, the Jatiya Party's position as the official opposition in parliament has been called into question.

Independents have secured 62, that's nearly six times as many seats as the Jatiya Party's meagre 11.

The Awami League is forming the government for a record-extending fourth term on the bounce with 222 seats that have given the party an absolute majority.

The second largest party in parliament by number of seats gets to be the official opposition and elect a leader of the opposition.

In the last two elections, the Jatiya Party came in second in parliamentary polls after the BNP's boycott in 2...