Reserved women’s seats: BNP to get 36, Jamaat 13, independents 1

The Election Commission (EC) has finalised the allocation of reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament, awarding 36 seats to the BNP-led alliance, 13 to the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, and one to independent candidates.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the distribution on Monday, April 6, following the commission’s 11th meeting.

According to the EC, the allocation reflects the current parliamentary representation of political parties.

Officials said MP Rumin Farhana will not be counted under the independent quota, which results in the BNP alliance receiving 36 seats, the Jamaat alliance 13, and independents one seat.

The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12 in 299 out of 300 constituencies. However, results for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 remain pending due to ongoing court proceedings. Voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed following the death of a candidate, while polling for Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6, vacated by Tarique Rahman, is scheduled for April 9.

Currently, the BNP holds 208 seats in parliament, with allied parties including the Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), and Ganosamhati Andolon each holding one seat. 

The Jamaat-led alliance has 68 seats, supported by partners such as the National Citizens Party (NCP) with six seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis with two, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Khelafat Majlis with one seat each. Independent candidates have secured seven seats.

Under existing law, reserved women’s seats are calculated based on the number of seats a party wins, using a proportional formula. Although BNP’s calculation yields 35 seats, officials said an additional seat has been allocated to ensure the full quota of 50 reserved seats is completed in parliament.

MOS/MHK