The Secretariat of the National Parliament has submitted the voter list for reserved women’s seats for the 13th National Parliament election to the Election Commission (EC).
The Election Management Wing of EC confirmed the matter on Monday.
According to sources, as per the law, the voter list for reserved women’s seats must be sent from the Parliament Secretariat to the Election Commission within three working days of the gazette publication of the election results. The Secretariat has submitted a list of 296 names, and the EC will now take the necessary legal steps.
Under the law governing women’s seat elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is entitled to 34.66 seats, rounded to 35 seats, in the National Parliament. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will receive 11.33 percent or 11 seats, while independent candidates may receive 1.16 percent or one seat if they form an alliance. The Jatiya Nagarik Party will get one seat. Other smaller parties will not receive any seats unless they form alliances, in which case they may get one seat. If alliances are formed, BNP’s seats may increase to 36, while in an election conducted through alliances, BNP would retain 35 seats, and Jamaat’s seats would rise to 13.
Regarding the election, Election Commissioner (EC) Abdur Rahmanel Masud stated that voting for the reserved women’s seats has already begun, as it is essentially an internal election for parties represented in the Parliament. “We can generally consider the nominations submitted by the parties as the election itself. They may have already started the process. Formally, it must be completed within 90 days of the oath-taking, and Insha’Allah, we will ensure that,” he added.
The 13th National Parliament election was held on February 12, along with a referendum. Fifty political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Jatiya Party, participated in the parliamentary election. However, only nine parties secured victories, while the remaining 41 parties, including the Jatiya Party, failed to win any seats.
