A total of 74 women candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have collected nomination papers from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in the reserved women’s seats of the 13th National Parliament. The nomination papers were collected on Sunday from the office of Assistant Returning Officer Monir Hossain at the Election Building in Agargaon. According to the EC’s list, 199 women have collected nomination papers over three days, all of whom are BNP candidates.

The BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan has been selling nomination forms for three days, with the final day of collection and submission being today. Party sources said that 1,025 nomination forms were sold over the first two days, each priced at 2,000 taka, with a 50,000 taka security deposit required upon submission. The EC announced the election schedule on Wednesday, setting April 21 as the last date for submission of nomination papers.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 22 and 23, appeals may be filed on April 26, and the final withdrawal date is April 29. Symbols will be allocated on April 30, and voting is scheduled for May 12.