Over 500 Contenders Vie for BNP Women’s Seats

More than 500 candidates have submitted applications to contest the reserved women’s seats in the upcoming Thirteenth National Parliament on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Applicants have emerged from nearly every district across the country, reflecting the high level of interest in these 35 allocated seats.

Although there is no formal application format, prospective candidates have submitted handwritten or typed resumes on plain paper. Many have also included detailed accounts of their participation in BNP activities, alongside extensive photographic evidence of rallies, meetings, and party programmes. Every application is formally addressed to the party chairman and Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, according to sources at the BNP Paltan office.

An anonymous BNP official told Bangladesh Pratidin that applications were accepted until 16 March. “In just a few days, over 500 applications were received,” he said, describing it as a record for the party. All applications will be forwarded to the party high command, where the final selections will be made.

A female party leader from Khulna, who has applied for one of the reserved seats, said she has been active in BNP politics for many years and has made significant sacrifices for the party. “I hope Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will carefully review my credentials,” she said. She added that several central leaders have already assured her of their support, noting that many other aspirants are also lobbying party leaders.

In addition to formal applications, candidates are actively campaigning on social media, running multiple pages, sharing photos of meetings and rallies, and engaging in paid promotional campaigns to attract attention from the party leadership.

According to party insiders, the push for nominations began after the formation of the new cabinet under Tarique Rahman’s leadership. Many aspirants are reaching out to influential government figures to strengthen their prospects. Former leaders of the student wing, Chhatra Dal, appear to have an advantage, alongside active women’s league members. The high command remains the ultimate decision-maker, although formal processes for nomination have yet to begin. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has indicated that the final nominations may not be confirmed until after Eid.

Under the constitution, the 50 reserved women’s seats in parliament are distributed proportionally based on party performance in general seats. BNP won 209 of the 299 general seats, entitling the party to 35 reserved women’s seats. Other allocations include 11 seats for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and one seat for the National Citizens Party (NCP), with the remaining three seats distributed among small parties and independent winners.

In the Thirteenth Parliament elections, 86 women contested general seats directly, with seven winning—six from BNP and one independent. Once the 50 reserved seats are added, women will occupy 57 seats in total, representing roughly 16 per cent of the 350-member legislature.