BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, along with five other female leaders, are in the race for nominations in the upcoming 11th parliamentary election from Feni 1 and Feni 3 constituencies.
The other five female leaders seeking nomination are: Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal General Secretary Shirin Akhter, Jatiya Party (JaPa) central leader Najma Akhter, central Mohila Awami League Cultural Affairs Secretary Rokeya Prachy, acting FBCCI Director Shomi Kaiser and central BNP executive committee member lawyer Shahina Akhtar Shanu.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was elected from the Feni 1 constituency four times during the period of 1991-2008.
In the January 5 general polls boycotted by BNP,the Awami League-led grand alliance candidate and central Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) General Secretary Shirin Akhter won from this seat without any contest.
She has again collecteda nomination form from JSD to contest in the upcoming general election.
Central Jatiya Party leader Nazma Akhter has also collected a nomination form from her party to contest from the Feni 1 constituency.
From the Feni 3 constituency, central Mohila Awami League Cultural Affairs Secretary Rokeya Prachi and FBCCI Director Shami Kaiser are seeking the nomination from Awami League.
From BNP, Shahina Akhter Shanu is trying to secure the party nomination to participate in the upcoming general polls from this seat.
Rokeya Prachy is an influential cultural activist who, for the past two years, has been involved in various social development activities in the area. Her native home is in Chhandia village under Sonagazi upazila.
FBCCI Director Shomi Kaiser is another influential figure in the country’s cultural scene. Her father Shahidullah Kaiser was a freedom fighter. Her mother Panna Kaiser is a former MP.
However, Shahana Akter Sanu, who has been associated with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal since its inception and now is a member of the BNP's national executive committee, is also hoping to secure the nominate from BNP. She practices law in Dhaka.