Eliza Zaman elected unopposed to reserved women’s parliamentary seat

BNP-nominated candidate Eliza Zaman has been elected unopposed as a member of parliament for reserved women’s seat-23 in the 13th National Parliament, after no other candidate entered the race. The Election Commission (EC) declared her elected in accordance with electoral rules.

The announcement was made in a notice issued by the Election Commission Secretariat on Monday morning (November 2). The notice was signed by Md Moin Uddin Khan, the EC’s joint secretary and returning officer for the by-election.

According to EC sources, Eliza Zaman was the only candidate to submit nomination papers on behalf of the BNP and its alliance by the October 26 deadline. Her nomination was declared valid following scrutiny on October 27. Although the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy expired at 4pm on Sunday (November 1), she did not withdraw her nomination. Consequently, she was declared elected as the sole candidate under Section 12(1) of the National Parliament (Reserved Women’s Seats) Election Act, 2004.

Returning Officer Moin Uddin Khan said Eliza Zaman had been declared elected in accordance with the law. The Election Commission has approved the publication of the official gazette notification. Once published, the notification will be sent to the Parliament Secretariat to arrange her swearing-in, he added.

The seat fell vacant after Ferdousi Ahmed Misty resigned as a reserved women’s seat MP on October 1, following allegations of her involvement in an attack, vandalism and looting at the Radha MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur, Dhaka.

The Election Commission announced the by-election schedule on October 12 to fill the vacant seat. Voting had been scheduled for November 12. However, with no rival candidate in the race, the election will not require a vote.