BNP, allies to get 35 women’s reserved seats, Jamaat bloc 13

The BNP-led alliance is likely to claim 35 of the 50 reserved seats for women in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, while the Jamaat-led bloc is expected to secure 13 seats, according to the gazetted results of polls held in 296 constituencies.

These figures reflect the proportional allocation of reserved seats based on the number of directly elected members from each alliance.

Election rules allow independent candidates to also gain a reserved seat if they choose to join an alliance, which could slightly adjust the final distribution once confirmed.

The Election Commission reported that in the 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP-led alliance won 211 seats, the Jamaat-led coalition 74 seats, and independent candidates 7 seats. 

These results form the basis for calculating the reserved seats for women, which are constitutionally fixed at 50.

Several constituencies are yet to be finalised. The gazette notifications for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 have been postponed following High Court directives, while Bogura-6 has been declared vacant. 

Meanwhile, elections for the Sherpur-3 constituency were postponed due to the death of a candidate, further affecting the final tally of seats.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud clarified that a political party must secure at least six elected seats to secure a women’s reserved seat. However, smaller parties can participate by forming alliances, enabling a broader representation of women across different political platforms.

The Election Commission has announced that arrangements will be made to hold elections for the 50 reserved women’s seats by mid-May 2026, ensuring that all constitutional requirements are met and that women’s representation in parliament reflects the proportional strength of the elected alliances.

MOS/MSU/NMA