Election Commission considers holding parliamentary vote on reserved women’s seats before Eid

Seats will be allocated in proportion to parties’ electoral strength in the 13th parliament, allowing successful candidates to join the House from its first sitting

The Election Commission is considering holding the vote for reserved women’s seats in parliament during the month of Ramadan, a move that would allow newly elected members to take their places when it convenes for the first time.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said discussions were under way to schedule the election for the 50 reserved women’s seats during Ramadan, while by-elections in Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6 would be held after Eid.

Under law, reserved women’s seats are distributed among parties in proportion to the number of general seats they win in a parliamentary election. Members elected to general constituencies then vote to elect MPs to the reserved seats.

In the 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won 209 seats, giving it a commanding majority. Its allies Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) and Ganosamhati Andolon secured one seat each.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which won 68 seats, is the main opposition. Its alliance partners also made gains, with the National Citizen Party (NCP) winning six seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis two, and Khelafat Majlis one.

Outside the two main blocs, Islami Andolan Bangladesh won a single seat, while the remaining seats were taken by independent candidates.

The EC published the official gazette of elected MPs on Feb 13, the day after polling. Under the constitution, the first sitting of parliament must be held within 30 days of the gazette’s publication.

If the commission completes the reserved seat election within that period, the women MPs would be able to attend the opening session of the new parliament.

How the Reserved Seat Election Works

The EC will first seek formal confirmation from political parties and independent MPs regarding their party or alliance affiliations. Once that process is complete, a voter list for the reserved seat election will be published.

The EC Secretariat will then appoint returning officers and complete preparatory work, including finalising the voter list. Following approval at an EC meeting, the election schedule will be announced.

Officials said the full plan may be placed before the EC next week, after which a formal timetable could be issued.

Although a polling day is officially designated, the outcome is often known in advance.

Parties and alliances typically nominate the same number of candidates as the seats allocated to them, meaning candidates are frequently elected unopposed once the withdrawal deadline passes.

Likely Allocation of Seats

BNP: 209 seats → approximately 35 women’s seats

(BNP-led alliance total: approximately 36)

Jamaat-e-Islami: 68 seats → 11 women’s seats

NCP: 6 seats → 1 women’s seat

(Jamaat-led alliance total: approximately 13)

Independents: 7 seats → 1 women’s seat

Other smaller parties are not expected to secure reserved seats under the current allocation formula.