Dhaka, Jan. 22 -- BNP has fielded the highest candidates 288 while Jamaat-e-Islami is contesting the February 12 parliamentary election with 224 candidates across the country.

A total of 1,732 contenders from 51 registered political parties and 249 independent candidates are competing in the national election from the country's 300 constituencies, according to the Election Commission's latest statistics released on Wednesday night.

Of the total candidates, 1,972 are contesting in 298 constituencies and nine have been declared valid candidates in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2.

Among other participating parties, 253 candidates are from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, while 192 from Jatiya Party, 90 from Gono Odhikar Parishad, 65 from Communist Party of...