AL to pick 48 for reserved women‍‍`s seats

The ruling Awami League will nominate candidates for 48 seats out of the total 50 reserved for women in the 12th parliament.

It gained 38 reserved seats proportionally through MPs holding the boat symbol. The party will also contest 10 more seats through an agreement with the 62 independent MPs.

A team of AL led by AL organizing secretary and whip of the parliament Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon on Wednesday handed over a letter, signed by AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, to the election commission secretary Jahangir Alam on behalf of 14-party alliance and independent lawmakers.

On Sunday, independent MPs, during a meeting with Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, left the decision of nominating independent candidates for reserved seats in the hands of the Premier.

AL office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan, among others, accompanied the whip.

As per the existing law, women‍‍`s seats are allocated in proportion to the number of seats won by parties in the general election. Members of parliament elected to regular seats become voters for reserved seats.

The Awami League won an absolute majority of 223 seats in the Jan 7 polls, the Jatiya Party 11, JaSaD one, the Workers Party one, and the Kalyan Party one.

According to the rules, independent MPs could nominate candidates for 10 reserved seats proportionately if they allied. This discussion has been ongoing since the election.

Proportionally, the Awami League would get 38 reserved seats for women, the Jatiya Party two, and the Independents 10.

The prime minister invited the independent MPs to the Gonobhaban on Sunday.

At that meeting, independent MPs entrusted Sheikh Hasina with the decision of approving candidates for reserved seats.