BNP is yet to decide candidacy for lone reserved seat at 11th Parliament as the last date of collecting nomination ends on May 20.
BNP’s senior leaders even didn’t opine on the candidacy nomination as party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is now at Thailand.
However, the party sources hinted that decision would be taken after his arrival but how many of its women leaders will be tabled for the race is still unclear.
According to the sources at BNP and its alliance Jatya Oikya Front, the party is likely to pick experienced woman leaders for nomination with some names are on the table.
They are: BNP’s Organising Secretary Shama Obaid and Assistant International affairs Secretary Barrister Rumeen Farhana, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s deceased son Arafat Rahaman’s wife Sharmila Rahaman Sithee also drew attention as well.
Vice Chairman Selima Rahaman and Standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy’s in-law Nipun Roy Chowdhury are on the forefront, according to the sources.
Nipun Roy Chowdhury serves as central executive member of BNP.
According to senior BNP leaders, decision of party’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahaman, however, will be the final call.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, Shama Obaid said, “I am not much concerned over reserve seat nomination but regular works in my organising area as per party’s order.”
All of the names still are in party’s internal discussions and no disclosure yet to make public.
Nipun Roy Chowdhury and Rumin Farhana emphasised echoed Obaid.
BNP will get one women's reserved seat as five elected candidates of the party have taken oath and joined the National Parliament.
According to the schedule declared by the Election Commission, polls for the seat is expected to be held on Jun 26.
The last date of submitting nomination papers has been set on May 20, last date of scrutinizing nomination papers on May 21, and the last date of withdrawing nominations has been set on May 28.
Out of the 50 reserved women's seats in the parliament, 43 went to the Awami League, four to the Jatiya Party, one to the Worker’s Party and one to an independent candidate—based on the representation ratio of each party.
However, one reserved women's seat remained for BNP since none of the party's members had been sworn into the parliament.
Later on Apr 25 and Apr 30, five of the six elected BNP candidates took their oaths, prompting the Election Commission to announce the schedule.
Although BNP had originally won six seats in the 11th parliamentary election, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not take the oath for his seat in the Bogura 6 constituency.
Following this, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury declared Fakhrul's seat vacant on Apr 30.
Here are the MP’s of reserved seat for women in the 11th parliament
AWAMI LEAGUE (43)
Suborna Mustafa, Shirin Ahmed, Zannatul Bakia, Shabnam Jahan Shila, Nahid Ijhar Khan, Khadizatul Anwar, Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Kaniz Fatema Ahmed, Basonti Chakma, Anjum Sultana, Aroma Dutta, Umme Fatema Nazma Begum, Shamsunnahar Bhuyian, Rumana Ali, Sultana Nadira, Hosne Ara, Habiba Rahman Khan Shefaly, Zakia Parvin Khanam, Sheikh Ani Rahman, Aporajita Haque, Shamima Akter Khanam, Fazilatun Nessa, Rabeya Alam, Tamanna Nusrat Bubly, Nargis Rahman, Monira Sultana, Khaleda Khanam, Syeda Rubina Mira, Kazi Kaniz Sultana, Gloria Jharna Sarker, Mamata Hena Lovely, Syeda Zohra Alauddin, Mosammat, Rushema Begum, Zakia Tabassum, Farida Khanam (Saki), Syeda Rashida Begum, Adiba Anjum Mita, Ferdousi Islam Jessy, Parvin Haque Shikder, Khadeza Nusrat, Tahmina Begum, Nadia Yasmin and Ratna Ahmed.
JATIYA PARTY (4)
Salma Islam, Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, Raushon Ara Mannan, and Nazma Akter.
WORKERS PARTY (1)
Lutfun Nesa Khan.
INDEPENDENT (1)
Selina Islam.