Women's reserved seats: 22 leaders from Ctg vying for a slice of the pie

With nearly two dozen women leaders from the Chattogram region looking to secure reserved seats in the 12th Parliament, the spotlight shines on influential and proactive members of the ruling Awami League as well as family members of late AL leaders.

The Election Commission is poised to announce the election schedule for the 50 reserved seats out of a total of 350 seats later this week, in accordance with the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh.

The election is expected to take place in February.

Under the proportional representation system, a party or coalition receives one reserved seat for every six seats won.

In the recently concluded national election, the AL won 223 seats, with the Jatiyo Party (JaPa) clinching 11 and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Workers Party, and Kalyan Party each securing one. Additionally, independent candidates got 62 seats.

The AL is expected to obtain 38 seats (including two from the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Workers Party, which won on the boat symbol), the JaPa is set to secure two, and independent candidates could claim 10 reserved seats.

In the 11th parliament, Chattogram had two reserved-seat  MPs, while Cox's Bazar had one, and each of the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts had one. Notable figures among the Members of Parliament from Chattogram district include Waseqa Ayesha Khan, daughter of late AL presidium member Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser, and Khadizatul Anwar Sony, daughter of former Fatikchhari MP Rafiqul Anwar. 

Cox's Bazar Mohila AL President Kaniz Fatema Ahmed and Khagrachhari Mohila AL Organising Secretary Basanti Chakma also served in the 11th Parliament.

Among the 11th Parliament MPs in reserved seats, Khadizatul Anwar Sony has already secured a seat from Chattogram-2 constituency.

Anticipation is building for increased female representation from the Chattogram region, with influential women leaders actively seeking parliamentary seats. 

Waseqa Ayesha Khan is considered a strong contender, known for her role as chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in the 11th Parliament.

Other potential candidates from the port city district include Hasina Mohiuddin, wife of late AL leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, and Kamrunnesa, wife of former minister Dr Afsarul Ameen. Jinat Sohana Chowdhury, a prominent figure in the Chattogram women's chamber, and Sabrina Chowdhury, a member of the forest and environment sub-committee of the AL, are also in the running.

The list also includes Chattogram metropolitan women affairs councillor Zobaira Nargis Khan, South District Mohila AL President Chemon Ara Taiyab, General Secretary Shamima Harun Lubna, North District  Mohila AL  President Dilwara Yusuf, General Secretary Advocate Basanti Prabha Palit, late AL leader Moslem Uddin Ahmed's wife Shireen Ahmad, former MP and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal's wife Selina Khan Badal, Mohila AL central committee member Rizia Reza Chowdhury, the wife of former Chattogram-15 MP Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi and daughter of late Jamaat leader Mominul Haque Chowdhury.

From Cox's Bazar, discussions involve the 11th Parliament's MP Kaniz Fatema Ahmed; Hosne Ara, daughter of freedom fighter Idris Ahmed and wife of former JaPa MP Mohammad Elias; Najnin Sarwar Kaberi, district AL organizing secretary; former MP Aye Thein Rakhaine; central AL leader Ismat Ara, and Ankitaz Ruby.

Meanwhile, discussions centre around three individuals from the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Firoza Begum Chino held the reserved women's seat in Rangamati in 2014. 

Basanti Chakma, the 11th Parliament MP for the reserved seat in Khagrachhari, faces uncertainty due to recent cabinet appointments, increasing the likelihood of an MP from another district being elected. Suchitra Tanchangya, a Bandarban Mohila AL member, is also part of the ongoing discussions, having had her name announced in 2014, only to be shelved later.