Reserved Women’s Seats: EC validates nomination of 36 BNP candidates

The Election Commission (EC) has found all 36 nomination papers submitted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alliance for reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament to be valid.

The scrutiny process began on Thursday morning (23 April) at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, where officials reviewed the submitted documents.

After verification, the EC confirmed the validity of all 36 BNP alliance candidates.

The nomination paper of independent alliance-backed candidate Sultana Jesmin was also provisionally accepted. However, the EC rejected the nomination papers of three independent candidates—Mahbuba Rahman, Sharmin Akhter, and Meherun Nesa.

The Returning Officer said candidates whose nominations were cancelled can file appeals by 26 April.

Meanwhile, National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Monira Sharmin has been given until 12 noon on Thursday to submit the necessary documents.

Earlier, on Monday (20 April), BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the list of 36 candidates. They are Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akhtar Ranu, Newaz Halima Arly, Farida Yasmin, Bilkis Islam, Sakila Farzana, Helen Zerin Khan, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Jiba Amina Khan, Mahmudah Habiba, Sabira Sultana, Sansila Zebrin, Sanjida Islam Tuli, Sultana Ahmed, Fahmida Haque, Anna Minj, Subarna Sikdar (Thakur), Shamima Ara Begum Swapna, Shamsi Akhter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bithika Binte Hossain, Suraiya Zerin, Mansura Akhter, Johurat Adib Chowdhury, Momtaz Alo, Fahima Nasrin, Arifa Sultana, Sanjida Yasmin, Nadia Pathan Papon, Shaukat Ara Akhter, Madhabi Marma, Selina Sultana, and Rezeka Sultana.

According to the election schedule, nomination papers were due by 21 April, with scrutiny held on 22 and 23 April. Appeals against rejected nominations will be accepted on 26 April, with hearings and decisions set for 27 and 28 April.

Candidates may withdraw by 29 April, and election symbols will be allocated on 30 April. Voting for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament is scheduled for 12 May.