BNP begins sale of nomination forms for women’s reserved seats

The ruling BNP yesterday initiated its internal
selection process for candidates in the election to the women’s reserved seats
in the 13th National Parliament by beginning sale of party nomination forms.
The election is slated for May 12.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
inaugurated the sale of nomination forms at the party’s Nayapaltan central
office around 11:00am.
The nomination forms would be sold till Sunday and
would also have to be submitted within the same period.
Addressing the aspirants, Rizvi said BNP’s
parliamentary board would take the final decision after assessing all relevant
factors, including the aspirants’ political records, role in the party’s
movements over the past 16-17 years, personal competence, speaking ability in
parliament and other necessary aspects.
Rizvi urged the aspirants to accept the party’s
decision in a disciplined manner and avoid creating any disagreement over the
final nominations.
“There should not be any unpleasant situation arising
if one person gets nomination while another does not,” he said.
“You have all endured much hardship and pain for the
party. So, I firmly believe you will accept the party’s decision,” he added.
Rizvi, who also serves as an adviser to Prime Minister
Tarique Rahman, handed over the first nomination form to Zareen Delawar.
He later distributed forms to several other aspirants,
including Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Arifa Sultana Ruma, Sabina Khan, Shawkat Ara
Akhter, Rokeya Chowdhury Baby, Mina Begum, Farida Yasmin, Meherunnesa Haque and
Peyara Mostofa.
On the first day, over 500 nomination forms were
collected by aspirants, said BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan.
Aspirants expressed confidence that the party would
properly evaluate their contributions with due consideration, adding that they
would accept the party’s decision.
Several hundred women leaders of BNP gathered at the
Nayapaltan office to collect forms. Many stood in queues and paid Tk 2,000 each
to obtain the receipt required for the form.
Earlier, the Election Commission on Wednesday
announced the schedule for the election to the women’s reserved seats.
As per the schedule, nomination papers may be
submitted until April 21, while scrutiny will take place on April 22-23.
Appeals against the scrutiny decision may be filed on April 26, and those
appeals will be disposed of on April 27-28. Symbols will be allotted to the
final candidates on April 30.
The EC said all necessary preparations to hold the
election in a peaceful and orderly manner have been completed.
According to the seat distribution, the BNP-led
alliance will receive 36 reserved seats, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party
alliance will receive 13, while independents will get one.
















