Women BNP leaders start lobbying

The Election Commission has already announced schedule for election to those vacant seats. According to the schedule, the election to the seats will be held on October 4. The last dates for submission of nomination papers and withdrawal are September 25 and September 29.

As per the law, the nine seats, allocated to the opposition Awami League, remained vacant as the party did not nominate any candidate for the seats. According to the Election to Reserved Women's Seat Act, the seats will now be added to the ruling party's quota.

In the first phase of the elections 30 BNP candidates, three from Jamaat, two from Jatiya Party and one from BJP were elected unopposed as there were no other contestants.

The aspirant female BNP leaders, who failed to get nomination for the 30 seats of the party, have started lobbying again with fresh vigour to get nomination for the nine vacant seats. They are visiting the residences and offices of the BNP senior leaders, influential ministers and MPs, and going to the party office to win nominations.

It has been learnt that Rajshahi district Mohila Dal leader Kazi Shahidun Nahar Hena is well ahead in the race for nomination. She was among the 30 who got party nomination in the first phase of the election to women's reserved seats. But she was later dropped as she could not submit the papers regarding her resignation from the Railway job till last day of the submission of nomination papers. Later, She was replaced by Rajshahi city Mohila Dal leader Jahan Panna.

The top leaders assured Hena of giving her nomination in the last phase of the elections.

Others among the nomination seekers are: Mamaching (Bandarban), Kamrun Nahar Dastagir (Chittagong), Shirin Sultana (Dhaka), Farida Moni (Kushtia), Shamima Islam Rony (Chandpur), Rabeya Ali (Mymensingh), Shammi Akhter (Habiganj), Shahana Akhter Sanu (Feni), Ajmeri Begum Chhanda (Munshiganj), Ashifa Ashrafi Papiya (Chapai Nawabganj), Motia Haq (Rajshahi), Prof Lutfunnessa Hossain (Rajshahi), Laila Yasmin (Patuakhali), Feroza Talukder (Jamalpur), Mahmuda Salam (Jamalpur), Saimun Begum (Lakshmipur), Rawshan Ara Hena (Bhola), Ruby Mostafizur Rahman (Bagerhat), Namunnhahar Baby (Chandpur), Fahima Hossain Jubilee (Dhaka), Newaz Halim Arly (Magura), Rahima Shikder (Munshinganj), Rabeya Siraj (Tangail), Feroza Bulbul Koli (Jessore), Rawshan Ara (Gaibandha), Saima Jalil (Barisal) and Hosne Ara Buli (Pirojpur).

BNP sources said, the decision of the parliamentary party would be final regarding the nominations. No fresh interviews will be held. But it has not been confirmed whether the nominations will be made on the basis of the interviews taken earlier.

A total of 265 female leaders of BNP applied for nomination for 30 seats in the first phase.