As many as 19 women in Barishal are seeking nominations to contest in the upcoming national election.

Aimed at succeeding political figures in the family, these women intend to take up the local leadership positions, currently held or left by their fathers and husband.

These 19 women are vying for nominations from Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party in 10 of the 21 constituencies of Barishal.

With their election campaign in full throttle, these women are competing at par with the male aspirants.

In four of the six constituencies of Barishal district, six women, including three heavyweight contenders, have sought nominations from the top three political parties.

They are – former state minister for cultural affairs Selima Rahman, former MP Bilkis Jahan Shirin and Jatiya Party’s presidium member and MP Ratna Amin.

Rubina Akter Mira, a ruling party aspirant is competing with the sitting AL MP of Barishal – 2. While she is running an all-out campaign, she vowed to work for whoever the party nominates for the seat.

Former technocrat state minister during BNP regime and senior BNP leader Selima Rahman has sought BNP’s nomination for Barishal-3.

She said that she is confident to win the seat given she gets the nomination and polls are fair.

In Barishal-4, former MP Mohiuddin Ahmed’s daughter Dr Shammi Ahmed is vying for AL’s ticket to contest the polls. Shammi, also the secretary for global affairs in the central mohila league, said that she wants to continue holding the torch lit by her father.

Barishal-5’s current MP Jebunnesa Afrose, wife of former Mayor Showkot Hossain Hiron, is looking to get re-elected from her husband’s seat.

BNP central committee organizational secretary Bilkis Jahan Shirin has collected nomination form from Barishal 4 and 5. A former MP during BNP administration, Shirin, believes women are more committed than men in their endeavours to take up and deliver developmental projects in their locality. Metropolitan BNP Joint Convener Afroza Khanan Nasrim has also sought the party’s nomination from this seat.

Nasrin Jahan Ratna, wife of the Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Hawlader is seeking nomination from their party in Barishal-6. A two-time MP, Ratna also served as Mayor of Bakerganj Municipality.  In the same constituency, belated former MP Masud Reza’s wife Irin Reza is seeking ruling Awami League’s nomination.

Other female aspirants are vying for nominations in Patuakhali-1, Patuakhali-4, Jhalakathi-1, Jhalakathi-2, Pirojpur-1 and Barguna-2 constituencies.