Candidates from the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies NCP and Khelafat Majlish and one Independent submitted nomination papers to the Election Commission for the 50 reserved seats for women in the 13th National Parliament.
They submitted their papers on Tuesday morning at the Election Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The 36 candidates from the BNP alliance include members of the party's standing committee, former MPs, wives and daughters of BNP leaders, ethnic minorities, former Chhatra Dal leaders, and leaders of its affiliated groups.
The BNP’s 36 candidates are Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akhter Ranu, Newaz Halima Arli, Mosammat Farida Yasmin, Bilkis Islam, Sakila Farzana, Helen Zerin Khan, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Jiba Amina Khan, Mahmuda Habiba, Sabira Sultana, Sansila Zebrin, Sanjida Islam Tuli, Sultana Ahmed, Fahmida Haque, Anna Minz, Suborna Sikder, Shamim Ara Begum Swapna, Shammi Akhter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bitika Binte Hossain, Suraiya Zerin, Mansura Akhter, Zaharat Adib Chowdhury, Momtaz Alo, Fahima Nasrin, Arifa Sultana, Sanjida Yasmin, Nadia Pathan Papon, Shawkat R Akhtar, Madhavi Marma, Selina Sultana and Rezeka Sultana.
Among the 13 candidates from Jamaat and its alliance nine are from Jamaat-e-Islami, two from NCP, and one each from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and JAGPA. The mother of July Uprising martyr Jabir Ibrahim is also included. One candidate from the Independent group also filed nomination paper on the day.
Jamaat candidates include Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, Sabikunnahar Munni, Nazmun Nahar Nilu, Mahfuza Hannan, Sajeda Samad, Shamsunnahar Begum, Mardia Momtaz, Rokeya Begum. From NCP Monira Sharmin and Mahmuda Alam Mitu, from Khelafat Majlish Mahbuba Hakim and from Jagpa Tasmia Pradhan.
Former Chhatra Dal vice president Sultana Jasmine Jui submitted nomination papers from the Independent group.
Three others Meherun Nesa from Joypurhat, Mahbuba Rahman from Jhenaidah and Shamima Akhter also submitted nominations papers as independent without any party support.
The Election Commission schedule says nomination papers will be reviewed on Wednesday and Thursday. Appeals will be settled on April 27 and 28, and the last date to withdraw candidacy is April 29.
Symbol allocation and voting are scheduled for May 12.
However, if the number of valid candidates equals the number of seats (50) and no one withdraws, the Election Commission will declare them elected without voting. In that case, no vote will be needed on May 12. Usually, there is no voting for reserved women's seats.
