AL has 20 women candidates, BNP 13

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has nominated 13 women candidates, mostly wives and relatives of party leaders, for the upcoming 11th general election.

The significant opposition nominated 13 women in thr 2008 election too. Among them, three female candidates including the party’s chairperson Khaleda Zia were elected.
Notably, Khaleda Zia's candidature was rejected this time due to conviction on corruption charges.

However, the other two women candidates elected in 2008, secured nomination this time too.
Krishak Sramik Janata League’s Kuri Siddiqui will contest under BNP's sheaf of paddy symbol as part of the Jatiya Oikya Front coalition. She is the daughter of Krishak Sramik League president Kader Siddiqui.
As a result, 14 women candidates will contest the polls with the BNP party symbol.
The 14-party alliance led by AL is fielding 20 women candidates this election.
They are the AL president Sheikh Hasina in Gopalganj-3, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in Rangpur-6, Matia Chowdhury in Sherpur-2, Sajeda Chowdhury in Faridpur-2, Dipu Moni in Chandpur-3, Sahara Khatun in Dhaka-18, Meher Afroz Chumki in Gazipur-5, Simin Hossain Rimi in Gazipur-4, Momtaz Begum in Manikganj-2, Sagufta Yasmin Emily in Munshiganj-2, Begum Monnujan Sufian in Khulna-3, Mahbub Ara Begum Gini in Gaibandha-2, Selima Ahmad in Cumilla-2, Shirin Akhter in Feni-1, Ayesha Ferdous in Noakhali-6, Shahin Akhter Chowdhury in Cox’s Bazar-4, Ismat Ara Sadek in Jashore-6, Habibun Nahar in Bagerhat-3, Joya Sengupta in Sunamganj-2 and Rebeka Momin in Netrokona-4. All of them except Selima Ahmad and Shahin Akhter served as members of parliament earlier.
Shahin Akhter is the wife of AL’s controversial MP Abdur Rahman Badi, accused of operating a drug racket.
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) president Selima Ahmad is the wife of former president of FBCCI Abdul Matlub Ahmad.
Among the BNP women candidates are Hasina Ahmed in Cox’s Bazar- 1, Shama Obayed in Faridpur-2, Rumana Morshed Kanak Chapa in Sirajganj-1, Shamim Ara Begum in Dhaka-11, Rita Rahman in Rangpur-3, Tahmina Zaman in Netrokona-4, Zeeba Amin Khan in Jhalakathi-2, Sabina Yasmin in Natore-2, Sansila Zebrin in Sherpur-1, Rumana Mahmud in Sirajganj-2, Masuda Momin in Bogura-3, Afroza Abbas in Dhaka-9, Tahsina Rushdir Luna in Sylhet-2 and Afroza Khan in Manikganj-3.

Tahmina Zaman is the wife of former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. Babar was given death sentence in the case regarding the 21 August grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka in 2004.
Hasina Ahmed contesting in Cox’s Bazar is the wife of BNP’s standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. He was the former MP in Chakoria-Pekua constituency in 2008 election.
Shamim Ara is the wife of Dhaka Mahanagar BNP leader MA Kaiyum who is currently in hiding.

Romana Mahmud who was elected in 2008 election is the wife of advisor to BNP chairperson Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.

Shama Obaid in Faridpur-2 constituency is the daughter of late BNP leader KM Obaidur Rahman.
Tahsina Rushdir contesting from Sylhet is the wife of Ilias Ali, who went missing two years ago, allegedly abducted by government agents.