BNP Finalises Nominees for Reserved Women’s Seats

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has officially finalised its list of candidates for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament. On Monday, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General and Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, announced the names during a press briefing held at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka.

Selection Process and Party Internal Assessment

The selection of these 36 candidates followed an intensive internal evaluation process. According to party officials, the nomination board conducted a two-day interview session last Friday and Saturday. These sessions took place at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan. The selection board was presided over by the Prime Minister and BNP Chairman, Tarek Rahman, who oversaw the vetting of aspirants alongside members of the National Committee.

The level of interest within the party was substantial. Party sources confirmed that a total of 1,025 nomination forms were sold to prospective candidates. Of these, approximately 900 individuals formally submitted their applications for consideration. Following the conclusion of the interviews, the board shortlisted and approved the final 36 nominees to represent the party in the legislative body.

List of BNP Nominees

The finalised list comprises a mix of veteran politicians and emerging figures within the party’s ranks. The following table provides the names of the 36 nominees as announced by the party leadership:

Context of Reserved Seats in the 13th Parliament

In the parliamentary framework of Bangladesh, reserved seats for women are allocated proportionately based on the number of general seats won by each political party in the National Parliament. The BNP’s move to finalise its list is a critical step in fulfilling its constitutional quota and ensuring female representation within its parliamentary caucus.

The nominees include individuals with diverse professional backgrounds, including legal experts, social activists, and long-standing political organisers. During the announcement, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi emphasised that the National Committee prioritised political dedication and service to the party during the two-day interview process. These 36 women will now proceed to complete the necessary formalities with the Election Commission to secure their positions in the 13th National Parliament.