[1] The result was a victory for Ziaur Rahman, who received 77% of the vote.

[2] They were the first presidential elections since the August 1975 coup that overthrew and killed president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and led to a military regime.

[3] The 1978 elections were called by the regime to lend legitimacy to its rule.

[3] The elections took place amid martial law, repression of the political opposition and curtailment of press freedoms.

Prior to the elections six parties backing Ziaur Rahman – the Bangladesh Labour Party, the Bangladesh Muslim League, the Bangladesh Scheduled Caste Federation, Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal, the National Awami Party (Bhashani) and the United Peoples' Party – formed the Jatiyatabadi Front (Nationalist Front) to support his candidacy.