Reserved Women's Seats: BNP unveils 36 women’s name
The BNP-led ruling alliance on Monday unveiled a final list of 36 nominees for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th parliament, effectively securing their election without opposition.
The announcement was made by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, at a press briefing held at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Although the Election Commission has scheduled voting for 12 May, no ballots will be cast as the number of candidates matches the seats allocated to the alliance.
Subject to the successful scrutiny of nomination papers, the candidates will be declared elected unopposed.
The nominees include Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akter Ranu, Newaz Halima Arli, Farida Yasmin, Bilkis Islam, Sakila Farzana, Helen Jerin Khan, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Nipun Roy
Chowdhury, Zeba Amin Khan, Mahmuda Habiba, Sabira Sultana, Sansila Jebrin, Sanjida Islam Tulee, Sultana Ahmed, Fahmida Haque, Anna Minz, Subarna Sikdar, Shamim Ara Begum Swapna, Shammi Akter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bithika Binte Hossain, Suraiya Jerin, Mansura Akter, Johorat Adib Chowdhury, Momtaz Alo, Fahima Nasrin, Arifa Sultana, Sanjida Yasmin, Nadia Pathan Papon, Showkat Ara Akter, Madhabi Marma, Selina Sultana and Rezeka Sultana.
Under existing legislation, the 50 reserved seats for women in the Jatiya Sangsad are distributed among parties represented in parliament in proportion to their share of general seats.
On this basis, the BNP-led alliance is entitled to 36 seats, while a bloc led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will receive 13, and independent members will hold one.
According to the election timetable, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is 21 April, with scrutiny scheduled for 22 and 23 April.
Appeals against scrutiny decisions may be lodged on 26 April and will be resolved between 27 and 28 April.
Election symbols are due to be allocated on 30 April. However, as parties typically nominate candidates equal to their allotted seats, these elections are generally uncontested.
The successful nominees are expected to be formally declared elected unopposed on the final date for withdrawal of candidatures.
