The Election Commission has set May 12 as the date for voting on reserved women’s seats, triggering a last-minute scramble among female political aspirants across parties as nomination lobbying intensifies.
In the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), activity has peaked since nomination form sales began on April 10 at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. Crowds of aspirants have since thronged the premises, creating a high-energy, slogan-filled atmosphere. Party sources said more than 1,000 nomination forms have already been sold, marking a record for the party. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said 1,025 forms were sold within the first two days.
Party insiders said applicants include central committee members, women’s wing leaders, and former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists, alongside professionals from cultural and public spheres. Wives and daughters of senior leaders are also among the aspirants, along with several figures from the entertainment industry.
Among those who collected nomination forms are Sultana Ahmad, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, Monira Banu, Shahnewaz Chowdhury, Farida Akhtar, Momtaz Akhtar, Farzana Rashid Laboni, Nilufa Yasmin Khan, Sayema Khatun, Tahmina Begum Ripa, Naima Khandaker, Rokeya Chowdhury Baby, Samira Azim Dola, Kazi Nazia Haque, Shakila Farhad Banu, Rehana Akhtar Ranu, Jinat Ara Afu, Kazi Mariam Begum, Hafiza Ferdous Limon, Mazeda Ahsan Munshi, Tahmina Khan, Rubina Akhtar Ruba, Shamima Rahim, Munmun Talukder, Tohmina Akhtar Hasemi, Tahsin Sharmin Tamanna, Rehana Parvin, Fauzia Safdar Soheli, Khaleda Yasmin, Afsana Mimi, Sansila Jebrin, Irene Mahbub, Sanzana Chaiti Popy, Shahana Sultana, Selina Afroze, Nasima Talukder, Nasima Akhtar, Kawsar Jahan Farida, Raihan Rahman Helen, Lovely, Jesmina Khanam, Farida Yasmin (Dora), Momtaz Begum (Noyon), Begum Razia Alam, Selina Parvin, Habiba Akhtar Papiya, Ayesha Akhtar Sanji, Sayma Ahmed, Shahnur Begum (Sagar), Mahmudah Akhtar, Nasima Islam Chowdhury Drishti, Jinnatun Nesha Jinu, Sultana Begum (Aakhi Sultana), Khadija Begum, Mahmudah Sultana, Mahmudah Sultana Chowdhury (Jhorna).
Party sources said singers and showbiz personalities are also in the race, including Baby Naznin (Nilphamari–4), Konok Chapa (Sirajganj–1), Dilruba Khan (Joypurhat–2), Rizhia Parvin (Kishoreganj), Dithi Anwar (Sylhet and Cumilla), and dancer Farhana Chowdhury (Mymensingh–11).
Unlike BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami does not conduct public nomination form sales. Party sources said only candidates selected by the central leadership will be asked to submit applications, a process that has not yet formally begun.
Despite the closed system, several women leaders are under internal consideration. These include central women’s affairs secretary Professor Nurunnisa Siddika, former BUET civil engineering student and teacher Engineer Mardia Momtaz, former MP Dr Amina Begum Rahman, former MP and Majlis-e-Shura member Shahana Ara Begum, Saida Rumman, Marzia Begum, Khandaker Ayesha Khatun, Dr Habiba Chowdhury Sweet, Kazi Maria Islam Baby, Rabeya Khanam, Dr Shirin Akhtar Runa, Tanha Azmi, Nargis Khan, Kaniz Fatema, Selina Akhtar, Ayesha Siddika, and Supreme Court lawyer and women’s wing assistant secretary Barrister Sabikun Nahar Munni.
Engineer Mardia Momtaz told Bangla Tribune that no nomination process has officially started. “Only those instructed by the party will apply,” she said, adding that even family members of senior leaders must come through organizational channels if selected.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), which secured six seats in the 13th national election, is expected to receive one reserved women’s seat under proportional allocation. Two names—joint convener Monira Sharmin and Dr Mahmuda Mitu—are currently in discussion.
However, party sources said the NCP is also negotiating with its alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami to secure an additional seat. Joint convener Monira Sharmin confirmed that discussions are ongoing and expressed hope for a resolution. She also said the party’s political council will begin distributing nomination forms within a day or two.
The renewed race for reserved women’s seats has revived an old debate in Bangladeshi politics: are these seats increasingly shaped by nepotism and family lineage, or are they a legitimate extension of partisan loyalty and political service?
Critics argue that reserved seats have historically favoured wives, daughters, and relatives of senior political leaders, often sidelining long-serving grassroots women activists. The current nomination rush has once again brought that tension to the forefront.
Former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad told Bangla Tribune that women’s growing participation should be seen positively, as it reflects political ambition and leadership readiness. He said it is not inherently wrong for relatives of senior leaders to be nominated if they are qualified, but stressed that parties must ensure merit-based selection so that women MPs are not reduced to symbolic roles.
Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad said no final decisions have been made, but insisted that candidates will be selected based on organizational merit rather than family ties.
BNP Women’s Party General Secretary Sultana Ahmad said party chief Tarique Rahman is prioritizing qualified candidates across all sectors. She added that even if relatives of senior leaders are nominated, they must meet the highest standards of competence and active political engagement.
In the 13th national election, out of 300 general seats published in the official gazette, BNP won 213, Jamaat 68, and NCP 6. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis secured 2 seats, Khelafat Majlis 1, Islami Andolan Bangladesh 1, Gono Odhikar Parishad 1, Bangladesh National Party (BJP) 1, and Ganosamhati Andolon 1. Independent candidates won 7 seats.
Under election rules, a party must secure at least six elected MPs to qualify for one reserved women’s seat in parliament.
Based on this formula, the BNP-led alliance is projected to receive 36 reserved women’s seats, while the Jamaat-led bloc is expected to get 13. Within this distribution, Jamaat is set to receive 1 seat as a party, NCP 1 seat, and independents collectively 1 seat based on representation.
