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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has officially announced the names of its nominees for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament. According to sources from the BNP press wing, the party has finalized 36 candidates following a rigorous interview process.
The list features a mix of veteran leaders, legal experts, and activists. Prominent names include:
Saima Rahman: Member of the BNP Standing Committee.
Shirin Sultana: Self-Reliance Affairs Secretary of the BNP Central Committee.
Nipun Roy Chowdhury: Member of the Central Executive Committee and General Secretary of Dhaka District BNP.
Sanjida Islam Tuli: Coordinator of 'Mayer Dak.'
Helen Zerin Khan: Assistant Education Affairs Secretary of the BNP Central Committee.
Rasheda Begum Hira: Training Affairs Secretary.
Shakila Farzana: Daughter of former BNP Whip Syed Wahidul Alam.
Bilkis Islam: General Secretary of Mohila Dal.
Other notable candidates include Rehana Akter, Mahmuda Habiba, Shammi Akter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bethika Bin'te Hossain (wife of the late Shafiul Bari Babu), and Mansura Akter (Joint General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal).
The BNP Nomination Board began interviewing aspirants on April 17. The party saw an overwhelming interest, with over 700 applications submitted at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan.
The election for the 50 reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament is scheduled for May 12, 2026. Based on the current parliamentary strength (where one reserved seat is allocated for every six general seats), the seat distribution is as follows:
Alliance/GroupReserved Seats AllocatedBNP Alliance36Jamaat-e-Islami Alliance13Independents01
The list also highlights representation from various sectors and regions, including:
Minority & Ethnic Representation: Madhabi Marma and Anna Minj.
Legal & Professional: Advocates and former student leaders like Sansila Jebrin and Sabira Sultana.
Regional Leaders: Candidates representing various districts including Momtaz Alo, Rezeka Sultana, and Jhorot Adib Chowdhury.
The final submission of these nominations marks a significant step for the BNP as it prepares for the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
