Staff Reporter :It is still uncertain whether the MPs of the reserved seats could join the first session of the 10th parliament by February while the Election Commission [EC] is delaying to announce the schedule for the election of 50 women reserved seats. At the same time, the ruling Awami League [AL] is also taking time to prepare the list of its women nominees in reserved seats.Last month, the EC gave a 21-day timeframe asking political parties and elected MPs, especially independent ones, to inform the EC whether they would join any alliance or party. Even, Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz had said that the election schedule for the reserved parliamentary seats would be announced after February 9. Sources close to the EC told The New Nation on Friday evening that the schedule for the election of women reserved seats may be announced on February 23. On the other hand, the list of AL women nominees is likely to be announced after the EC announces the polls schedule.Party sources said the AL is taking time to prepare its list of nominees to avoid confusion among the alliance leaders while the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken decision to introduce new faces in the 10th parliament. “So far as we know, the AL has prepared its list for women reserved seats. It is in the hand of PM. Nobody knows as to who has been included in the list. It may be sent to EC after the polls schedule is announced,” said Nazma Akhter MP, president of Jubo Mahila League yesterday.About possible inclusion of leaders, Nazma further said, “We have got information that several newcomers will get chance this time. It depends on PM’s desire as she is the supreme authority. In that case, several senior leaders of party’s different associate organizations will not get ticket for women reserved seats.”Meanwhile, the AL has also formed an alliance with five parties ahead of elections to reserved seats for women and planned to contest in 41 out of 50 reserved seats for women in the national parliament. In this regard, the main opposition Jatiya Party [JP] will be allotted six women seats against its 34 general seats. Besides, the group of 16 independent MPs will be allotted three women seats against their total seats.A list of 247 MPs of the six-party alliance, who will vote the MPs of reserved seats, was submitted to the EC Secretary on February 8.In the list, the AL gave names of 231 MPs, six names came from Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal [JSD] gave name of five lawmakers and two each from Jatiya Party [JP] and Tariqat Federation. Besides, single one came from Bangladesh Nationalist Front [BNF].Officials said the AL filed 231 names though the total number of AL lawmakers was 232. As, the MP of Tangail-8 Shawkat Hossain Shahjahan died recently.Seventeen women have been elected MPs through direct election in the 10th Parliamentary polls while it was 19 in the ninth Parliament.
