Home
+
Published : 23 Apr 2026, 10:20 PM
The disqualification of a candidate from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has triggered questions over the fate of a reserved women’s seat in parliament, with election officials suggesting an open by-election may be required if the decision stands.
Monira Sharmin, joint convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP) had her nomination papers rejected on Thursday.
Returning Officer Moin Uddin Khan cited a breach of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which mandates a three-year “cooling-off” period for government employees after resignation or retirement before seeking election.
Monira joined Bangladesh Krishi Bank in November 2023 and resigned only in December last year, failing to meet the statutory requirement.
Despite the rejection, Monira and her legal team have expressed intentions to challenge the decision.
"We will appeal to the Election Commission on Sunday. We entered the race with full preparation and hope to regain the candidacy," said her lawyer Najmus Sakib.
If the appeal to the EC fails, the candidate still holds the right to move the High Court for a stay or reversal of the order.
Reserved seats this year were distributed among political parties and alliances based on their proportional representation in the general election.
Under this formula, the BNP alliance has been allocated 36 seats, the Jamaat alliance 13 seats -- of which one is now vacant -- and the independent alliance one seat.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud noted that while reserved seats are traditionally filled without a contest, the vacancy created could change the dynamic.
"If the seat remains vacant after the appeal process, a by-election will be held," Masud explained.
"In that scenario, the seat will no longer be reserved for a specific alliance. It will be declared open, allowing any party or alliance to field candidates for a vote by the current members of parliament," he said.
