Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has published the list of 36 candidates for reserved women seats in the 13th National Parliament. In its nomination process, the party has tried to balance three aspects: previous parliamentary experience, family political connections and emerging youth leadership.
The list includes former Members of Parliament, wives and daughters of party leaders, youth leaders emerging from the student wing (Jatitabadi Chhatra Dal) and representatives from minorities and professional backgrounds.
Of the 36 candidates, 10 are former MPs, seven are relatives (wives and daughters) of BNP leaders, three represent indigenous and minority communities, six have emerged through the student wing, and three are candidates who contested the last election and lost.
Besides this, seven other women leaders from BNP and its affiliates have also been nominated.
However, several prominent personalities, including Afroza Abbas and Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia, as well as some well-known cultural figures were not included in the list. This has evoked mixed reactions both within and outside the party.