Dhaka:BNP-nominated candidate Eliza Zaman is on track to be elected unopposed in the by-election for reserved women's seat No. 23 in the 13th Parliament, as she stands as the sole candidate with a valid nomination paper.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Eliza Zaman was the only candidate to submit her nomination paper before the deadline, which expired on Monday afternoon. The Election Commission released the list of validly nominated candidates on Wednesday, confirming her position as the sole candidate.
Her nomination paper underwent scrutiny on Tuesday, as per a notification signed by Md Moin Uddin Khan, the returning officer for the reserved seats and EC joint secretary. Eliza Zaman also serves as the joint convener of Pirojpur district BNP and the organizing secretary for the Barishal division of the party's women's wing, Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.
The Election Commission's schedule states that November 1 is the last date to withdraw candidacy. Although voting is set for November 12, it will not be necessary if she remains the only candidate, allowing her to be declared elected unopposed.
Previously, on October 1, BNP reserved-seat MP Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti resigned following instructions from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Parliament Secretariat promptly issued a gazette notification declaring the seat vacant the same day. Mishti's resignation came amid accusations of her involvement in an attack and vandalism at the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a maternal and child healthcare facility in Mirpur, though she denied any wrongdoing.