Staff Reporter:
BNP on Monday nominated only 12 women among its 237 candidates for the upcoming national parlia-mentary election, which raised a question of percentage?
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the names at a press conference held at the party Chairperson’s office in Gulshan.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will stand in three constituencies- Dinajpur-3, Feni-1 and Bogura-7.
The other women candidates are Afroza Khan Rita (Manikganj-3), Tahsina Rushdir Luna (Sylhet-2), Farzana Sharmin Putul (Natore-1), Sabira Sultana (Jashore-2), Ishrat Sultana Ellen Bhutto (Jhalakathi-2), Sansila Jebrin (Sherpur-1), Sanzida Islam Tuli (Dhaka-14), Shama Obaed (Faridpur-2) and Chow-dhury Nayab Yusuf Ahmed (Faridpur-3).
At present, there are 50 reserved seats for women in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Besides, under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), political parties must nominate at least 5 percent women candidates in direct elections.
According to the Election Commission’s directive, all political parties are also required to have 33 per-cent women representation in their committees.
