Only seven women emerge winners in national polls

The results of the 13th national parliamentary elections are being announced. As of 10:30am on Friday, unofficial results from 258 constituencies have been reported, with only seven women candidates declared winners.

An analysis of the election results shows that a total of 85 women candidates contested this year, of whom seven have won so far.

In Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj and part of Bijoynagar), independent candidate Rumeen Farhana (Goose symbol) won by a large margin, securing 117,495 votes — 37,568 more than her closest rival, Junaid Al Habib of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, an ally of BNP.

In Faridpur-2 and Faridpur-3, BNP candidates Shama Obayed Islam (Faridpur-2) and Naeb Yusuf Ahmed (Faridpur-3) have been declared unofficial winners.

In Manikganj-3 (Saturia, Manikganj municipality and eight unions of the district sadar), BNP candidate Afroza Khanom won with 167,345 votes, defeating Muhammad Saeed Noor of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis (Rickshaw symbol), who received 64,242 votes.

In Jhalakathi-2 (Jhalakathi Sadar and Nalchiti), BNP alliance candidate Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto secured 113,100 votes across 147 centres, including postal ballots. Her nearest competitor, SM Neyamul Karim of Jamaat, received 69,805 votes.

In Sylhet-2 (Bishwanath and Osmani Nagar), Tahsina Rushdi Luna, wife of the ‘disappeared’ BNP leader M Ilyas Ali, won by a margin of 79,321 votes, securing 117,956 votes. Her closest rival, Muhammad Muntasir Ali of the 11-party alliance (Khilafat Majlis), received 38,635 votes. Among 33 candidates contesting six seats in Sylhet, she was the only woman candidate.

In Natore-1, BNP candidate Farzana Sharmin won with 102,726 votes, defeating Kazi Mohsin Ahmad of Jamaat-e-Islami, who received 90,568 votes.

This year, 2,017 candidates contested across 299 constituencies. According to the final list released by the Election Commission after the nomination withdrawal deadline on January 20, there were 84 women candidates, making up only 4 per cent of the total. Of these, 66 were party-nominated, 19 ran as independents, and one candidate belonged to the third gender.