The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has published its final list of nominees for women’s reserved seats, blending experienced leaders with new faces.
The list of 36 candidates was announced on Monday afternoon at a press conference at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Although voting for these indirectly elected seats was scheduled for May 12, it will not be required due to procedural reasons. This means the party’s nominees are effectively set to become Members of Parliament, provided they are not disqualified during the verification process.
Among the nominees is Selima Rahman, a member of the BNP Standing Committee. She previously served twice as a reserved seat MP and was state minister for cultural affairs during the 2001–2006 BNP government. She also contested the 2008 general election from Barishal, losing by around 3,500 votes.
Former Women’s Wing secretary Shirin Sultana, who was also an MP in the 8th Jatiya Sangsad in 2001, has been nominated again. She is the wife of BNP central leader Khairul Kabir Khokon.
Several former MPs are also on the list, including Rasheda Begum Hira (2001, 2008), Rehana Akhter Ranu (2001, 2008), BNP central committee member Bilkis Islam (2001), senior joint general secretary of the Women’s Party Helen Jarin Khan (2001), self-reliance affairs secretary Nilofar Chowdhury Moni (2008), Women’s Party secretary Sultana Ahmed (2001), and media cell member Shammi Akter (2008).
Some nominees come from influential political families. Nawaz Halima Arli, assistant training affairs secretary of the BNP, is the sister of former state minister for culture Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyam. Nipun Roy Chowdhury, general secretary of Dhaka District BNP, is the daughter of former cultural affairs minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and the daughter-in-law of Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.
Other notable nominees include Sakila Farzana, a Supreme Court lawyer and daughter of late MP Syed Wahidul Alam; Bithika Binte Hossain, wife of late BNP leader Shafiul Bari Babu; Ferdausi Ahmed Misti, wife of former councillor Saidur Rahman Newton and sister of BNP leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu; and Barrister Johurat Adib Chowdhury, daughter of former whip Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury.
Three candidates who lost in direct constituency elections have also been nominated: Sanzida Islam Tuli (Dhaka-14), Sabira Sultana (Jashore-2), and Sansila Zebrin (Sherpur-1).
First-time nominees include Most Farida Yasmin, a BNP central committee member; Jeba Amina Khan, a central executive committee member and assistant to the chairperson for foreign affairs; Mahmudah Habiba, a media cell member; Fahmida Haque, assistant international affairs secretary; and Subarna Sikder, a representative of the Matua community from Gopalganj.
Among the newcomers, Mansura Akter is currently joint general secretary of the central Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, while Sanzida Yasmin is also a joint general secretary of Chhatra Dal and recently served as the elected general secretary of the Eden College unit.
Others include Arifa Sultana, former central joint general secretary of Chhatra Dal and a Dhaka South BNP member; Nadia Pathan Papon, former assistant general secretary of Chhatra Dal and a South city BNP member; Selina Sultana Nishita, former joint general secretary of Chhatra Dal; and Shaukot Ara Akter, a former leader of Eden College Chhatra Dal.
Munshiganj’s Mamtaz Alo, international affairs secretary of the Women’s Party central committee and president of the France Women’s Party, has also been nominated. Fahima Nasrin Munni is assistant international affairs secretary of the BNP, while advocate Madhabi Marma, former general secretary of Bandarban district Women’s Party, is also on the list.
