Former MPs make up 85 of BNP’s 292 election candidates

Nineteen of them had previously served in different government ministries

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has nominated candidates in 292 constituencies for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

Speaking at a media briefing at the BNP’s Gulshan office on Monday, Mahdi Amin, spokesperson for the party’s Election Steering Committee, said 85 of the candidates had previously served as members of parliament.

He said those candidates had experience of working with the public and representing voters in parliament.

Amin added that 19 of the party’s candidates had earlier held responsibilities in various government ministries.

“Their experience in public administration and their engagement with the public have taken the BNP -- a party of the masses -- to a different level. In terms of educational qualifications, BNP candidates are also well represented -- 237 have completed at least a Bachelor’s degree.”

Amin added that the party had nominated 10 women candidates in the election, describing the move as part of the BNP’s commitment to women’s participation in politics.

"We are firmly committed to increasing the number further in the future. Although women make up half of the country’s population, there are some political parties that have not nominated a single woman candidate, which is disappointing and regrettable.”