AL finalises 48 candidates for reserved women's seats

The ruling Awami League (AL) has finalised 48 candidates for reserved women's seats in the 12th National Parliament.

Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with 1549 candidates. After that in the party’s Parliamentary Nomination Board Meeting 48 candidates were finalised.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of 48 candidates at a press conference after the nomination board meeting held at Ganabhaban, the official residence of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The nominees are: Draupadi Devi Agarwal from Thakurgaon, Ashika Sultana from Nilphamari, Rezia Islam from Panchagarh, Dr Rokeya Sultana and Mahfuza Sultana from Joypurhat, Kohale Quddus from Natore, Jara Jabin Mahbub from Chapainawabganj, Tarana Halim, Begum Shamsur Nahar and Aparajita Haque from Tangail, Sanjida Khanam, Shabnam Jahan, Parul Akhter, Sabera Begum, Nahid Ejahar Khan, Shahida Tarekh Dipti, Anima Mukti Gomez, Sheikh Anar Koli Putul and Hasina Bari Chowdhury from Dhaka, Shammi Ahmed from Barishal, Nadia Binte Amin from Netrokona, Kanan Ara Begum and Farida Khanam from Noakhali, Faridun Nahar Laily and Ashrafun Nesa from Lakshipur, Meher Afroz Chumki from Gazipur, Farida Akhtar Banu from Bagerhat, Munnujan Sufian and Runu Reza from Khulna, Diloara Yusuf, Waseqa Ayesha Khan and Shamima Harun from Chattogram, Khaleda Bahar Beauty from Bhola, Farzana Sumi from Barguna, Nazneen Nahar Rashid from Patuakhali, Farida Yasmeen and Masuda Siddiqui Rozi from Narsingdi, Aroma Dutta from Cumilla, Umme Farzana Sattar from Mymensingh, Bedowra Ahmed Salam and Nazma Akhter from Gopalganj, Parvin Jaman Kalpana from Jhenaidah, Laila Parvin from Satkhira, Nasima Zaman Boby from Rangpur, Jharna Hasan from Faridpur, Fazilatun Nesa from Munshiganj, Ruma Chakrabarti from Sylhet and Joroti Tanchangya from Rangamati.

Awami League sold nomination forms for reserved seats from 6 February to 8 February. The party sold a total of 1549 forms in three days and from which the party earns Tk 7,74,50,000.

There are 50 seats reserved for women in the National Parliament. Each political party gets one reserved seat for women against their six seats. As such, due to the support of independent MPs the Awami League will get a total of 48 seats and Jatiya Party will only two seats.