The result declaration day in the 13th national Parliamentary election marks a new turning point in Bangladesh’s political history. After two decades, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to form a government with an absolute majority. Within this broader victory, a notable development is the entry of seven women candidates into parliament.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 2,017 candidates contested in 300 constituencies. Of them, 84 were women — around 4 percent of the total. Among the female candidates, 66 received party nominations while 19 contested as independents.

In Manikganj-3 (Saturia, Manikganj municipality, and eight unions of the district sadar), BNP candidate Afroza Khanam Rita was unofficially elected with 167,345 votes under the “paddy sheaf” symbol. Her nearest rival, Md Sayeed Noor of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis (rickshaw symbol), received 64,242 votes.

In Jhalakathi-2 (Jhalakathi Sadar–Nalchity), BNP alliance candidate Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto secured 113,100 votes, including postal ballots, across 147 centres. Her closest competitor, SM Neamul Karim, backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scale symbol), received 69,805 votes.

In Sylhet-2 (Bishwanath and Osmaninagar), Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of BNP leader M Ilias Ali — who had been reported missing — won a widely discussed victory. She secured 117,956 votes, 79,321 more than her nearest rival.

In Faridpur-2, BNP candidate Shama Obaid Islam was elected, while in Faridpur-3, Nayab Yusuf Kamal won the seat. In Natore-1, Farzana Sharmin Putul secured victory.

In Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj, and parts of Bijoynagar), Barrister Rumin Farhana won by a large margin as an independent candidate. Contesting with the “duck” symbol, she secured 117,495 votes —37,568 more than Junaid Al Habib of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam, backed by the BNP alliance.

Analysis of affidavits submitted to the Election Commission shows that 64 of the female candidates, nearly 75 percent, hold graduate or postgraduate degrees. The largest age group was between 25 and 39 years, comprising 32 candidates. Professionally, around 67 percent of the women candidates are employed.