With the scrutiny of nomination papers complete, only 62 women remain in the race for the February 12 national election, exposing a stark gender gap as most of the 51 political parties failed to field a single female candidate.
A gentlemen’s agreement was reached among political parties in the July National Charter 2025, calling for the nomination of at least 5 percent women of their respective aspirants in the next general election, and at least 10 percent women in the 14th national election. However, the agreement will not be incorporated into the Constitution.
A total of 27 political parties and alliances endorsed the agreement, while three parties issued notes of dissent. Despite this, most parties flagrantly ignored the commitment in the 13th parliamentary election.
A total of 105 women aspirants, including 37 independent ones, submitted nomination papers in different constituencies to run the 13th parliamentary election, but the nomination papers of 42 women aspirants were rejected on various grounds during the five-day scrutiny from December 30-January 04.
Besides, three nomination papers of BNP chairperson late Khaleda Zia submitted for Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7 and Fem-1 were not scrutinized.
A total of 2,568 aspirants -both mates and females- submitted nomination papers for the country's 300 constituencies, but the returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid, while turned down 723 others during the scrutiny.
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Among the 51 participating parties, only 16 political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP field women aspirants, while the rest 35 others including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh didn’t nominate even a single woman candidate for the national election.
Though the political parties nominated some 2020 male aspirants, they picked only 68 women as aspirants, which is only 3.25 percent of total number of nominated aspirants.
BNP nominated the women for the highest 15 constituencies, but it now has 11 women valid candidates in the race following the scrutiny as the nomination paper of one woman (Fatema Khanam-Natore-3) was rejected and three nomination papers of Khaleda Zia were not scrutinized.
BNP women valid candidates are Farzana Sharmeen (Natore-1), Romana Ahmed (Meherpur-1), Sabira Sultana (Jashore-2), Esrat Sultana Elen Bhutto (Jhalakathi-2), Sansila Jebrin (Sherpur-1), Afroza Khanam (Manikganj-3), Sanjida Islam (Dhaka-14), Shama Obaid Islam (Faridpur-2), Nayab Yusuf Ahmed (Faridpur-3), Nadira Aktar (Madaripur-1) and Tahsina Rushdir Luna (Sylhet-2).
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Among 37 independent women aspirants, only the nomination papers of five candidates were declared valid, who are Sabina Yasmin (Natore-2), Meherjan Ara Talukdar (Jamalpur-4), Akhtar Sultana (Mymensingh-6), Tahmina Zaman (Netrakona-4) and Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2).
The other woman nominated by the political parties include nine from Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Marxist, six each from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD and Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh, five each from Ganasamhati Andolan and Jatiya Party, three each from Ganaodhikar Parishad (GOP), National Citizen Party-NCP and AB Party, two each from Gong Forum and Biplobi Workers Party, and one each from Bangladesh Muslim League, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basosd, Bangladesh Republican Party, National People's Party (NPP), Aamjanatar Dal, Islami Front Bangladesh and Bangladesh Labour Party.
But during the scrutiny, the women aspirants who lost candidacy include three from Basod, one each from Jatiya Party, Ganasamhati Andolan, Biplabi Workers Party, AB party, National People’s Party (NPP) and Bangladesh Labour Party.
Among the participating political parties, the highest 331 aspirants from BNP submitted nomination papers (multiple candidates in some constituencies) to run the February-12 election.
Besides, 276 aspirants from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, 268 from Islami Andolon Bangladesh, 224 from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 104 from Gano Odhikar Parishad, 94 from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 65 from Communist Party of Bangladesh CPB), 53 aspirants from AB Party, 44 from National Citizen Party-NCP, 42 from Insaniat Bangladesh and 41 aspirants from Basod. The other political parties who joined the race have less than 40 aspirants each.
The Election Commission on December 12 last declared the schedule to arrange the 13th national election and the referendum on July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.
Now the aggrieved aspirants can file appeal petitions with the Election Commission from Monday to January 9, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers. The Commission will hear and dispose of the petitions from January 10 to 18.
The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).