The Seventh Parliament headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was dissolved on 13 July 2001,[1] having completed its designated 5-year term (the first parliamentary administration to ever do so)[2] and power was transferred to the caretaker government headed by Justice Latifur Rahman.

[4] The international[5] and national monitors declared the polling free and fair despite the Awami League alleging massive vote rigging by the BNP.

[8] The results were highly disproportionate, with the BNP winning 131 more seats than the Awami League despite their popular vote total differing by less than one percentage point.

In 2004, a constitutional amendment was passed reinstating the reserved seats for women and increasing the number from 30 to 45.

However, disputes over the selection of a caretaker government, with disagreements between the parties over their neutrality, led to the 2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis, which eventually resulted in military intervention.