Dhaka, Aug 14 (BDNEWS) - Hundreds of female leaders and their enthusiastic supporters Sunday thronged the central office of ruling BNP to collect party nomination forms to get ticket for becoming parliament members in the seats reserved for women.
A total of 183 female aspirants, including two ministers – Prof Jahanara Begum, Selima Rahman - collected their nomination forms till 8pm Sunday, the first day of collection of the party nomination forms, party sources said.
Meanwhile, seven of them submitted their nomination forms to the party office till Sunday night.
The collection and submission of the nomination forms will continue till August 18. The BNP parliamentary board will finalise the nomination after taking interview of the aspirants on August 27.
The city's central BNP office was humming with the female leaders and their enthusiastic supporters.
Supporters of many female leaders also were seen chanting slogans in favour of their leaders and brought out processions in front of the party's Naya paltan office.
Former female JCD leaders, organisers of the different front organisations of ruling BNP came from across the country to collect and submit the nomination forms.
Wives, sisters and relatives of a good number of ministers and front-line BNP leaders also took forms to get the party nomination.
Among prominent others, who took the party nomination forms are - Rabeya Siraj, wife of the Jute and Textile minister Shahajahan Siraj, Shirin Sultana, wife of BNP lawmaker from Narshingdi Khairul Kabir Khokon, Nazmun Nahar Baby, wife of state minister for Education, Ishrat Mirza Khushi, wife of public works minister Mirza Abbas, Rokeya Akmed Lucky, widow of late BNP lawmaker Shamshuddin Ahmed from Narsigndi.
Helen Jerin Khan, former leader of Jatiyabadi Chattra Dal (JCD), former lawmakers Sarawari Rahman, Prof Faziluttenessa, founder president of Jatiyabadi Mohila Dal, Advocate Ferdous Akhter Wahida, Shahida Akhter Reeta, Prof Firoza Bulbul Kali, Mama Ching Marma, Nur Ara Safa, Kazi Shammi Sher, also took the nomination forms.
Pointing to their contribution in the anti-autocratic movement and also at the bad times of the party, the female leaders, who frequently took the streets, vowed to contribute more for the party as well as country, if they selected by the party high-ups for the membership in the parliament.
"Obviously, it will be a landmark step in ensuring women empowerment and their participation in the parliament," Selima Rahman told the BDNEWS, in an instant reaction about the increasing the number of reserved seats for women.
Rokeya Akhter Lucky, who withdrew herself from the Narshingdi by-polls, on the request of party high-ups, expressed her optimism to get the party ticket in the election and said: I think, party will consider my nomination with sympathy.
Shirin Sultana, wife of BNP lawmaker Khairul Kabir Khokon, said: I don't want to be evaluated as wife or relatives of anybody. I want to be evaluated through my works, devotion to the party.
Mama Ching Marma, the lone representative from three hill districts, said that if selected she will fight for the rights of indigenous people.
Expressing her optimism Prof Faziluttenessa, founder president of Jatiyabadi Mohila Dal, said: I filed my nomination for getting the party ticket.... now the party high-ups will take decision.
Advocate Hosne Ara Gias Daisy, who hails from Kishoregonj, opined that dynamic, educated leadership should come forward to take the lead.
Aspirants colleted the nomination forms for Tk 5,000 in cash, and have to deposit Tk 25,000 during submission of the forms. Those who will be nominated will have to donate Tk 3 lakh to the party fund.
The Election Commission announced the schedule for election to the reserved seats for women in the parliament on August 2 with voting date on September 6.
According to the election schedule, the date of submission of the nomination papers is August 27 while scrutiny will take place the following day.
The date of the withdrawal of the nomination papers is September 1.
The election, for the first time in country's history, will be held in proportion with the number of seats of the political parties in the parliament.
According to the proportionate, ruling BNP will get 30 seats while AL 9, Jamaat 3, Jatiya Party (Ershad) 2 and other political parties, including JP (Manju), BJP (Naziur) and Sramik Krishak Janata League, 1.
Those who would be elected for the reserved seats are expected to join the next session of the parliament. However, their tenure will be a brief one as the present parliament has already completed nearly four years.
BDNEWS/2035 hrs
