AL to pick 48 of 50 JS reserved seats

The ruling Awami League informed the Election Commission on Wednesday that 62 independent lawmakers in the January 7 general election would remain under the treasury bench whips.

In a letter, the AL conveyed the message to the EC, saying that the independent lawmakers had left the decision of nominating independent candidates for reserved seats in the hands of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina.

After submitting the letter to the EC, Jatiya Sangsad  whip and AL central organising secretary Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan told reporters that the AL would nominate candidates for 48 seats out of the total 50 reserved for women in the parliament, while the Jatiya Party would nominate the remaining two.

During a media briefing at the EC building in the capital’s Agargaon, Mahmud said that with the support of 62 independent lawmakers, 48 women leaders from the Awami League could become members of the parliament from reserved seats, alongside two other parliamentarians nominated by the Jatiya Party.

Explaining the ruling party’s plan to nominate candidates, he said that priority would be given to individuals from the Awami League family for the nomination of women’s reserved seats in Jatiya Sangsad.

He also said that leaders of the Mohila Awami League and AL-affiliated organisations, as well as women leaders from various social strata and professions, would get priority in the process.

EC is planning to hold elections for the 50 JS reserved seats in the first week of February.