Election to reserved women's seat likely in Ramadan: EC

The Election Commission (EC) is planning to hold elections to the reserved women's seats of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad during the holy month of Ramadan, with the schedule likely to be announced soon.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud disclosed the plan while speaking to reporters at the Election Commission building on Wednesday. He said discussions had been held on conducting the election during Ramadan and that the Commission aims to complete all related procedures before Eid.

He added that by-elections to the Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6 constituencies will be held after Eid.
Under constitutional provisions, elections to reserved seats must be held within 90 days of the publication of the gazette notification of the general election results. 

According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), reserved women's seats are distributed among political parties in proportion to the number of general seats they secure. Only parties winning more than one general seat qualify, while independent candidates are not eligible individually.

In the 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured 209 seats, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, and the National Citizen Party obtained six. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis secured two seats.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for elections to three major city corporations - Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and Chattogram City Corporation. The Local Government Division has formally requested the EC to take necessary steps to arrange the polls, initiating the legal and administrative process to elect new mayors and councillors.