Limited female gains as only 7 clinch seats in competitive national polls
BNP candidates secured six of the seven seats
Seven women have been elected so far in the 13th parliamentary election, with BNP candidates securing six of the seats as the party moves closer to forming the next government with a landslide lead.
According to the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh, there were 83 female candidates contesting the election, including 63 from political parties and 20 independents.
Among party‑nominated women candidates, BNP fielded 10, National Citizen Party (NCP) 3, the Jatiya Party 6, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) 6, Gono Odhikar Parishad 3, and Ganosamhati Andolon 5. Jamaat‑e‑Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh did not nominate any female candidates.
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Among the winners, BNP candidate Afroza Khanam Rita secured a decisive victory in Manikganj-3, winning 166,175 votes.
In Jhalakathi-2 (Sadar-Nalchity), former lawmaker and former district BNP general secretary Esrat Sultana Elen Bhutto returned to parliament, winning by a margin of 43,295 votes.
Sylhet-2 (Biswanath and Osmaninagar) also went to the BNP, with Tahsina Rushdir Luna defeating her rival by 79,321 votes, according to unofficial results.
In Faridpur, the BNP maintained a strong showing in two constituencies. Shama Obaid won Faridpur-2 (Saltha-Nagarkanda) with a margin of 120,909 votes, while Nayab Yusuf Kamal secured Faridpur-3 with 146,680 votes.
In Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara), BNP-nominated candidate Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul was unofficially declared elected after securing 102,197 votes.
Outside the BNP fold, independent candidate Barrister Rumeen Farhana won Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj and part of Bijoynagar).
Contesting with the "duck" symbol, Rumeen secured 118,547 votes and was unofficially declared elected. Farhana, a former BNP lawmaker, had been expelled from the party ahead of the polls.
The election of seven women marks a decline in direct female representation compared with recent parliamentary polls. In the 12th parliament elected in 2024, 19 women won general seats, while 22 were directly elected in 2018 and 18 in 2014. The highest number came in 2008, when 19 women were elected.
In the election and referendum held yesterday, polling centres across the capital witnessed a notable turnout of women voters from early morning.
