The major political alliances have decided to maintain their existing coalition positions for the upcoming election to reserved women’s seats in parliament, following the recently concluded 13th general election.
According to officials from the Election Commission (EC) and related sources, both the BNP-led alliance and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance have formally informed the commission in writing that they will retain their electoral partnerships for the reserved seat vote. The decision mirrors the alliances formed during the general election, indicating continuity in political strategy.
EC had earlier asked all parliamentary parties and independent members to clarify whether they intended to contest the reserved seats individually or as part of alliances.
Under the law, such decisions must be communicated within 30 working days of the publication of the general election gazette. Although the deadline is set to expire on 5 April, political groups submitted their positions ahead of time.
The final voter list for the reserved women’s seats election is expected to be published on 6 April.
Meanwhile, a new development has emerged among independent lawmakers. Of the seven MPs elected as independents, six have formed a separate alliance. However, Rumeen Farhana has chosen to remain outside any bloc. Similarly, Islami Andolan Bangladesh MP Md Oli Ullah, elected from Barguna-1, has also opted not to join any alliance, though both will retain their voting rights under the law.
The election to reserved women’s seats must be completed within 90 days of the publication of the official gazette of the general election results, as stipulated in the relevant legislation.
EC will announce the detailed schedule—including nomination submission, scrutiny, withdrawal deadlines, and polling date—through a formal notification. Based on the current timeline, voting is expected to be held by 14 May.
Reserved seats are allocated proportionally, based on the number of general seats secured by parties or alliances in the 300-member parliament. One reserved seat is assigned for every six general seats.
However, the calculation is currently based on 297 seats, as the results for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 remain suspended by court order.
In this context, BNP now has 209 seats. On a proportional basis, the party is entitled to around 35 reserved seats. Its alliance with Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), and Gono Sanghati Andolon increases that number to 36.
Jamaat-e-Islami, which secured 68 seats and sits in opposition, is entitled to around 11 reserved seats on its own. However, its alliance with the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Khelafat Majlis raises its total to 13 seats.
NCP, having won six general seats independently, is also entitled to one reserved women’s seat under its own allocation.
Among independent MPs, the six-member alliance formed by independent lawmakers is expected to secure one reserved seat collectively.
EC officials noted that parties and alliances typically nominate one candidate per allocated seat in reserved elections. As a result, most candidates are elected unopposed.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said preparations for the vote were under way. “We will organise the reserved women’s seat election soon. We have already received letters from political parties regarding their alliance positions,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He confirmed that both BNP-led and Jamaat-led alliances would retain their coalition structures, and that six independent MPs had formed a bloc, while one had chosen to remain unaffiliated.
“The final voter list will be published shortly in accordance with the law, followed by the announcement of the election schedule,” he added.
