49 aspirants submit nomination papers

Forty-nine aspirants yesterday submitted nomination forms for election to the parliamentary seats reserved for women.

Election Commission said 43 Awami League candidates submitted nomination papers for the election to the 50 reserved seats of the 11th parliament.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, on behalf of the aspirants, submitted the nominations to returning officer Abul Kashem at the Nirbachon Bhaban in Dhaka's Agargaon in the afternoon

Four aspirants of Jatiya Party and one from Workers' Party of Bangladesh also submitted nomination papers.

The JP nominees are Salma Islam, Raushan Ara Mannan, Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury and Nazma Akhter, while the the lone candidate from Workers' Party of Bangladesh is Lutfunnessa Khan. Besides, one independent candidate -- Selina Hossain -- also submitted her nomination.

Election Commission officials said these aspirants are set to win the election, as they are the only candidates from their respective areas.

MPs who took oaths of office are allowed to vote in the election for the women's reserved seats, to be held on March 4.

The EC would scrutinise nomination papers today, and last date of withdrawal of candidature is February 16. 

The reserved seats for women are allocated to political parties in proportion with their number of seats in parliament. Accordingly, 43 seats are allotted to Awami League, four to Jatiya Party, one apiece for BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront, Workers' Party and independent candidates.

Eight lawmakers were elected from the BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront in December 30 polls, but they are yet to take oath.

After submitting nomination papers, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters that his party gave importance to dedication of grassroots workers while nominating candidates for reserved seats.

BNP is making “hilarious” allegations that upazila election will not be free and fair, he said while commenting on BNP's decision to not join the Upazila Parishad election, set to begin on March 10.

“They [BNP] are not taking part in upazila polls fearing disastrous results, as they faced debacle in last parliamentary polls,” he said.

“There allegations are baseless. They tried to make parliamentary polls questionable, but failed to do so,” Obaidul said.