83 New Faces, 10 Women: BNP Balances Youth and Experience in Candidate List

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) unveiled a candidate list of 237 preliminary nominees for the 13th national parliamentary election on Monday, with 83 first-time contestants and 10 women among them. This reflects a deliberate effort to blend generational renewal with seasoned leadership.

Among the debutants are prominent figures like Abdul Awal Mintoo (Feni-3), Ishraque Hossain (Dhaka-6, son of late mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka), Sanjida Islam Tulip (Dhaka-14, Mother’s Call activist), JCD leader Kazi Rawnakul Islam, and Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas. Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani was nominated for Gopalganj-3, Sheikh Hasina’s ancestral stronghold, marking a bold challenge.

The 10 women candidates include Chairperson Khaleda Zia (contesting three seats), Farzana Sharmin (Natore-1), Sabira Sultana (Jashore-2), Sansila Zebrin (Sherpur-1), Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto (Jhalakati-2), Afroza Khan Rita (Manikganj-3), Sanjida Islam Tulip, Shama Obaed Islam (Faridpur-2), Tahsina Rushdir (Sylhet-2), and Nayab Yusuf (Faridpur-3). This exceeds the Election Commission’s 33% female representation requirement in party committees and the 5% direct nomination mandate.

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "This is our list of possible appropriate candidates. For those who have been with us in the simultaneous movement, we haven't nominated anyone in the constituencies they're interested in. We hope they'll announce their candidates soon, and then we will finalise our list. It may change, especially after discussions with the parties that joined the simultaneous movement."

Nine of the 12 Standing Committee members received tickets, but several senior leaders, including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Habib-un-Nabi Sohel, Rumeen Farhana, and Asaduzzaman Ripon, were excluded. The party avoided multiple family members per seat, except where successors replaced deceased leaders.

The list was finalized after a five-hour virtual meeting led by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who conducted five surveys per constituency to ensure winnability and unity. The blend aims to project both continuity and change as BNP seeks to reclaim power.