68 candidates vie for BNP nomination for reserved seat vacated by Mishti
The party sold 69 nomination forms for Tk5,000 each and received 68 completed forms, charging an additional Tk50,000 for each submission.
Sixty-eight women leaders have submitted nomination forms to the BNP for the reserved parliamentary seat vacated by Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti.
Former lawmakers, central party leaders, district and metropolitan leaders, and former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders are among the aspirants.
The party sold 69 nomination forms for Tk5,000 each and received 68 completed forms, charging an additional Tk50,000 for each submission, according to BNP office sources.
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It collected Tk3.45 lakh from form sales and Tk34 lakh from submissions, bringing total receipts from the process to Tk37.45 lakh.
The aspirants submitted their forms at the BNP's central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, yesterday between 10am and 5pm. They had collected the forms from the same office on Friday.
Naya Paltan sees a flurry of activity
The BNP's central office remained busy throughout the day as aspirants arrived with supporters, exchanged greetings and chanted slogans.
Shaheenur Begum (Sagar), joint secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal's central committee, submitted a form. She received the BNP's nomination for the 2018 national election in Noakhali's Subarnachar.
She said she had been active in street protests since 1997, participated in party programmes over the past 17 years, been arrested 11 times and played an active role in the July uprising.
"I hope the party will do justice to me and allow me to work for people," she told The Business Standard.
Rehena Akter Shirin, former convener of Eden Mohila College Chhatra Dal, said she hoped the party would nominate a leader with a clean image and a proven record of activism amid controversy surrounding the vacant seat.
She wants to prioritise education, address discrimination and violence against women and children, and promote sports and cultural activities to keep young people away from drugs.
If elected, she also hopes to help implement BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's 31-point reform plan and contribute to drafting and enforcing laws for public welfare.
Farida Yasmin Dora, another aspirant, said she would accept the party leadership's decision and support whoever receives the nomination. She said lawmakers should work for everyone, not just women and children.
Dora said she hoped to draw on her international business experience to bring billions of dollars in assistance to Bangladesh if nominated.
By-election scheduled for 12 November
The seat fell vacant after Mishti resigned on 1 October amid controversy over an attack, vandalism and looting at the Radda Maternal and Child Health Centre in Mirpur on 24 September. She was accused of involvement in the incident.
The Election Commission announced the by-election schedule on 12 October. Nomination papers must be submitted by 26 October, with scrutiny on 27 October. Appeals can be filed on 28 October and will be settled on 29 October.
The deadline for withdrawing candidacy is 1 November, electoral symbols will be allocated on 2 November, and voting is scheduled for 12 November.
