Dhaka, June 2 -- Public outcry is intensifying in Bangladesh over the controversial and pervasive practice of nomination trade ahead of national elections. Civil society actors, political analysts, and legal experts are raising alarms, warning that the buying and selling of electoral nominations is eroding democratic values and promoting corruption at the highest levels of government.

Nomination trade-a term used to describe the exchange of party nominations for money or other favors-has reportedly plagued both the ruling party and opposition groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Critics argue that this practice disenfranchises qualified candidates who lack financial backing and fuels a cycle of corruption in parliam...