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.
