NCP’s Nusrat Tabassum’s Nomination Declared Valid Following HC Order

The Chief Returning Officer of the Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum, Joint Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), valid for the reserved women's seats in the 13th National Parliament. Sources within the NCP confirmed the development today, Saturday (May 2), noting that the commission is expected to make a formal announcement following the completion of administrative formalities.

The decision follows a High Court directive issued earlier this week. Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination was initially rejected by the Election Commission on April 22 because it was submitted 19 minutes past the deadline. Challenging this decision, she filed a writ petition (No. 5022/2026), leading the High Court bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar to order the EC to accept and scrutinize her papers.

The Election Commission had already published a gazette notification on April 30 for 49 candidates who were elected unopposed. Out of those 49, 36 are from the BNP-led alliance, 12 from the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, and one is from an independent bloc.

Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination pertains to the 50th and final reserved seat. Returning Officer Md. Moin Uddin Khan had previously stated that a final decision on this remaining seat would be made in accordance with the law once the court-ordered scrutiny of the NCP leader’s nomination was resolved. With her candidacy now declared valid, she is poised to fill the final vacancy in the reserved women's quota.

The election for the reserved women's seats was scheduled for May 12, with April 22 being the final date for nomination submission. The NCP, which emerged as a political entity following the July uprising, is part of the broader political landscape seeking representation in the 13th Parliament. Nusrat Tabassum, a prominent youth leader, had been at the forefront of the student-led movements before joining the NCP leadership.