Seven women candidates, six of whom are members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were elected as members of parliament in the 13th national election. BNP won more than two-thirds of the seats in the parliamentary elections held on Thursday.
The election comes after a long period of unrest in the country following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. (AFP)A total of 2028 candidates from 50 political parties and independents contested 299 seats across Bangladesh, including 83 women.
Among the elected women candidates, six are from BNP, while one woman was elected as an independent candidate from Brahmanbaria-II, the Dhaka Tribune reported, citing unofficial figures. Earlier he was expelled from BNP.
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Who are the women candidates?The selected women candidates are-
Afroza Khan Rita from Manikganj-3Shama Obaid from Faridpur-2Israt Sultana Ellen Bhutto from Jhalokati-2Nayab Yusuf Kamal from Faridpur-3Farzana Sharmin Putul from Natore-1Tahsina Rushdie’s Luna is from Sylhet-IIBarrister Rumin Frhana from Brahmanbaria-2Triq Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party won the general election after crossing the majority, followed by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition bloc, which won 76 seats, Reuters reported.
Also Read: Bangladesh Election Results: Jamaat-e-Islami’s lone Hindu candidate Krishna Nandi loses Khulna 1 seat as BNP wins polls
The election comes after a long period of unrest in the country following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. Since then, an interim government has been in charge under Muhammad Yunus.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), which was instrumental in bringing down Hasina’s government, won only 5 of the 30 seats it contested. The NCP was part of the Jammat-led coalition.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina’s Delhi exile as BNP returns to power in Bangladesh
More than 1,700 candidates contested the general election along with independents from more than 50 political parties.
Several important BNP leaders have won strategically important seats including Tariq Rahman Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 seats. Former Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has won South East Chittagong-11 constituency.
Tariq Rahman has yet to comment on his party’s majority. The BNP has reportedly asked people to refrain from large events and instead offer special prayers on Fridays.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen was the first to congratulate Rahman.
