EC Announces Schedule for Reserved Women’s Seats; Voting May 12

The Election Commission (EC) has announced the schedule for the election to the reserved women's seats in the 13th Parliament. The last date for submission of nomination papers is April 21. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 22 and 23, and the last date for withdrawal is April 29. Voting is scheduled for May 12.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the schedule at the Election Commission building in Agargaon on Wednesday (April 8). EC Joint Secretary Md. Moin Uddin Khan has been appointed Returning Officer, while Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain will serve as Assistant Returning Officer.

Members of Parliament elected on general seats will vote for candidates in the reserved women's seats. However, candidates are often nominated in numbers equal to their party’s allocation, in which case they are declared elected unopposed on the withdrawal deadline.

Under existing law, the 50 reserved women's seats are distributed in proportion to the number of seats each party wins in the general election. This year, the BNP alliance is set to receive 36 seats, the Jamaat alliance 13, and an independent alliance one seat.