Dhaka, Nov 04 (V7N) – Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced female candidates for 5 percent of the 300 constituencies, in line with the July Charter recommendations. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir unveiled the party’s list of candidates for 237 constituencies on Monday. Among them, 12 seats feature 10 female candidates.
 
BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been nominated in three constituencies: Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7, and Feni-1. The remaining nine seats will be contested by nine female party leaders. The party last participated in national elections in 2018, fielding 14 women candidates at that time.
 
The July Charter recommends reserving 5 percent of parliamentary seats for female candidates out of 300 seats. This proposal received approval from BNP and 26 other political parties and alliances, while three parties registered a note of dissent. Additionally, the 50 constitutionally reserved seats for women remain intact, with necessary amendments to Article 65(3) of the Constitution suggested.
 
According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), all political party committees must maintain at least 33 percent female membership. Initially expected to be achieved by 2020, the deadline has been extended to 2030.
 
Under the law, a candidate can contest a maximum of three constituencies, reduced from five in previous elections. Following this rule, Khaleda Zia will contest three seats. She has previously contested in Bogura and Dinajpur but never in Dinajpur-3. Her ancestral home is in Feni, and her late husband, BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman, hailed from Bogura.
 
Other female candidates include Sanjida Islam Tuli for Dhaka-14, a coordinator of the “Mother’s Call” platform protesting enforced disappearances. Afroza Khanom Rita has been nominated for Manikganj-3; she is the daughter of industrialist and former minister Harunar Rashid Khan Munno. Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of former Sylhet-2 MP Ilias Ali who was abducted in 2012, will contest her late husband’s seat. Shama Obayed Islam has been nominated for Faridpur-2, while Nayyab Yusuf will contest Faridpur-3. Former MP Israat Sultana Illen Bhutto is nominated for Jhalokathi-2. Farzana Sharmin Putul, a former member of the Anti-Corruption Commission, will contest Natore-1, and Shansila Jebrin Priyanka is nominated for Sherpur-1. Sabira Sultana Munni will contest Jashore-2.
 
BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that party nominations for 5 percent of seats directly aim to increase women’s representation in the upcoming election.
 
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