Aliza Zaman Set to Become MP in Place of Mishti

Aliza Zaman, a former union parishad chairperson from Pirojpur and a central joint secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, has been nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the reserved women’s parliamentary seat vacated by Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti.

The BNP announced Aliza’s name in a candidate list for reserved women’s seats published on October 22. The list was signed by the party’s acting secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Mishti resigned from parliament on October 1 following an instruction from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman amid allegations of her involvement in an attack, vandalism and looting at the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a maternal and child healthcare facility in Mirpur, Dhaka.

The facility was attacked on September 24, with a group of people allegedly demolishing structures and looting medicines and medical equipment. Mishti denied any involvement in the incident and called for an investigation.

Following her resignation, the Parliament Secretariat declared her reserved women’s seat vacant and asked the Election Commission to take steps to fill it. The Election Commission subsequently scheduled the by-election for November 12.

Under the reserved-seat system, the BNP is entitled to nominate a candidate for the vacant seat. Aliza Zaman’s nomination puts her in line to replace Mishti in parliament, subject to the completion of the electoral process.