Reserve seats: Nominations of BNP, independent candidates declared valid

All 36 candidates from the BNP alliance have been declared valid following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the reserved women's seats in the 13th parliament. The only candidate from the independent alliance has also been validated.

Returning Officer and Election Commission (EC) Joint Secretary Moin Uddin Khan scrutinised the nomination papers at the Election Building on Thursday morning.

He said, "Initially, the nomination papers of 36 candidates from the BNP alliance have been declared valid. The nomination paper of one candidate from the independent alliance has also been accepted."

At the same time, Assistant Returning Officer EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Manir Hossain said that the nomination papers of three other candidates, which were submitted separately, were rejected due to lack of support from any party or alliance.

Under the existing law, the 50 reserved women’s seats in parliament are allocated among parties and alliances in proportion to the number of seats they win in the general election. On that basis, the BNP alliance is set to receive 36 seats, the Jamaat alliance 13, and the independent alliance one.

On Wednesday, the first day of scrutiny, the nomination papers of 12 people from the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance were cleared, but a nomination paper submitted by NCP Joint Convener Monira Sharmin – a part of the 11-Party Alliance, was “suspended”.

The candidate is in danger of being dropped from the election as she has not met the requirement of completing three years since leaving government service. The returning officer will decide on the selection of the NCP candidate's nomination papers on Thursday afternoon.

The 36 Nominees from the BNP Alliance

The seats allocated by the BNP and its allies include members of the party's National Standing Committee – its policymaking body, as well as former members of parliament, wives and daughters of BNP leaders, members of ethnic minority communities, former leaders of student organisations, and leaders of affiliate organisations.

The cleared candidates are Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akter Ranu, Newaz Halima Arli, Farida Yasmin, Bilkis Islam, Shakila Farzana, Helen Jerin Khan, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Zeba Amin Khan, Mahmuda Habiba, Sabira Sultana, Sunsila Jabrin, Sanjida Islam Tuli, Sultana Ahmed, Fahmida Haque, Anna Minj, Subarna Sikder, Shamim Ara Begum Swapna, Shammi Akter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bithika Binte Hossain, Suraiya Jerin, Mansura Akter, Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, Mumtaz Alo, Fahima Nasrin, Arifa Sultana, Sanjida Yasmin, Nadia Pathan Papon, Shaukat Ara Akter, Madhabi Marma, Selina Sultana and Rezeka Sultana.

One Independent Candidate Declared Valid

A total of 50 candidates from the ruling BNP, the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and the independent alliance submitted their nomination papers on Tuesday. Apart from this, three additional candidates have submitted their nomination papers.

Former Chhatra Dal (Shravan-Jewel Committee) vice-president Sultana Jasmine Jui submitted her nomination papers on behalf of the independent alliance. The returning officer declared her nomination papers valid after examination on Thursday.

The nomination papers submitted by Meherun Nesa of Joypurhat, Mahbuba Rahman of Jhenaidah, and Shamima Akhter – filed without party and alliance backing -- were rejected.

According to the schedule, the selection of nomination papers will be done on Wednesday and Thursday. The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is April 29 after the appeal is settled. The date of voting is set for May 12.

After the selection of nomination papers, if there are equal number of valid candidates to the number of seats, they will be elected uncontested. After the withdrawal of candidacy period, the Election Commission will declare them elected uncontested and publish the gazette as members of parliament.

Under the EC schedule, the deadline for submission is April 21. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on April 22 and 23.

The deadline for withdrawal is April 29, while polling is scheduled for May 12.

MPs elected from general seats vote to elect members for the women’s reserved seats, though in practice voting is usually not needed as candidates are typically elected unopposed. As parties and alliances generally nominate the same number of candidates as the seats allocated to them, the nominees are usually declared elected unopposed on the final day for withdrawal of candidacies.