Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told aspirant candidates for women’s reserved seat in parliament that she could not nominate all but she could entertain all with winter cake.
Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League made this amusing quip at a meeting at Ganababan. The parliamentary board of the Awami League on Sunday called the aspirants for interviews.
A total of 822 has applied for nomination. “It is a tough job to sort out women lawmakers for reserved seats one by one but it is a matter of joy that so many women have applied for the reserved seats,” she said adding that the Awami League could accommodate only 36 out of 50. Referring to the measures taken by the government to empower women she said once women had no room anywhere but the government has opened the door.
Party General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said: “All of you are qualified and eligible to be a member of parliament. You have enormous chance in future; so don’t be disappointed.”
He also said that they would not select anyone being driven by emotion but on the basis of personal profile of each aspirant.
The aspirants were entertained with winter cakes such as chitoy, Bhapa and Pati-Shapta.
Awami League Parliamentary Board Member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Suranjit Sengupta, Kazi Zafarullah, and Nuh-Ul-Alam Lenin were present at the meeting.