The Election Commission is likely to hold an election for the 50 reserved women seats of the 10th parliament by the third week of March.
The date might be announced by the middle of this month, a senior assistant secretary of the EC told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Earlier the EC sent letters to seven political parties and independent candidates, who had won seats in the January 5 poll, asking whether they would join any the alliance or a political party respectively to contest for the reserved seats.
After getting confirmation from the seven political parties and independent candidates by February 9, the commission would publish the voter list on February 10 or 11, he said.
“After publishing the voter list, the commission may announce the schedule for reserved women seats poll on February 13 or 16,” said the official.
EC officials said the commission would announce the polls schedule after settling any kind of demand or objection arising over the voter list.
According to the laws, reserved seats elections should be held within 90 days after publishing the gazette of parliamentary election. The reserved seats are distributed among the parties or alliances in proportion to the total seats won by them in the general election. To contest, a candidate would have to be proposed by a lawmaker. On January 8 The Election Commission published the gazette for 10th parliamentary elections.
The commission did not publish the gazette of two constituencies- Jessore-1 and Jessore-2, because the Election Commission demanded a show-cause from Awami League candidates in those seats for unethical conduct.
Meanwhile, Tangail-8 constituency has become vacant because of the death of Shahkat Momen Shahjahan, who was the elected MP from Awami League in the constituency.
The Election Commission would allocate 10 days for submitting nomination papers, two days for screening nomination papers and six days for withdrawal of nomination before the poll.
The commission is preparing the list of independent candidates that would be sent to the Sangsad secretariat, said the officials.
Until holding the election to reserved seats, no changes can be made in the list, however, the commission can amend it if any corrections necessary.