BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has advised party leaders vying for nominations to the women’s reserved seats in parliament to abide by the party’s final decision. He emphasized the importance of not causing any disturbances during the nomination process, as such actions could negatively impact both the party’s and the government’s reputation.
The matter was deliberated during the BNP’s candidate interviews at the chairman’s Gulshan office, attended by members of the party’s standing committee. Aspirants were questioned about their political history, organizational involvement, and capacity to represent women in parliament.
Senior BNP officials highlighted the party’s aim to strike a balance by valuing both seasoned women leaders and younger candidates who can bring fresh perspectives to politics.
Before the interviews, aspirants and their supporters gathered outside the office, discussing their prospects, exchanging updates on the selection process, engaging informally with party insiders, and speculating on potential nominees.
The initial interviews included candidates from Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, and Faridpur divisions, with over 400 participants. A member of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal from Ranisankail upazila in Thakurgaon revealed that Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir conducted the interviews without a fixed duration for each aspirant.
Many leaders expressed their dedication to the party over the past 17 years and hoped their contributions would be recognized. They assured the board of their acceptance of the party’s final decision.
BNP insiders disclosed that aspirants were questioned by the parliamentary board, comprising standing committee members, on various aspects such as their motivation for seeking nomination, party and constituency contributions, involvement in movements, and future legislative priorities.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General, emphasized the party’s focus on evaluating women leaders’ contributions, particularly during the past 15–16 years of political struggles. He highlighted the challenges faced by many women leaders, including harassment and intimidation, during that period. Additionally, factors like educational background, parliamentary oratory skills, and legislative knowledge would be taken into account.
The interviews, overseen by Tarique Rahman and attended by standing committee members, involved the sale of approximately 1,300 nomination forms over three days, with nearly 900 already submitted. Aspirants from Chattogram, Sylhet, Cumilla, Dhaka, and Mymensingh divisions are slated for interviews today.
The Election Commission reports 50 reserved women’s seats in parliament, estimating that the BNP-led alliance may secure 36 seats, the Jamaat-led alliance 13, and independents one. The nomination deadline is April 21, with scrutiny scheduled for April 22–23 and voting on May 12.