Jamaat Considers Top Women Leaders and Leaders’ Wives for Reserved Seats

Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Jamaat-e-Islami is finalizing its candidates for the 50 reserved women’s seats in parliament. Party sources indicate that Jamaat plans to contest 11–12 of these seats and has begun preliminary discussions on potential candidates.

Priority is expected to be given to the wife of the party Amir, Amena Begum, who has previously represented Jamaat in parliament. Other names under consideration include the wife of the Deputy Amir, Habiba Rahman, and the wife of the Central Propaganda Secretary. In addition, prominent women leaders, including the Women’s Secretary Nurunnisa Siddika, central leader Fatema Akter Happy, Dhaka Metropolitan South Women’s Secretary Ayesha Siddika Parvin, and Daffodil International University lecturer Mardia Momtaz, are also being considered.

Party sources say that candidate selection will focus on political experience, leadership capabilities, and organizational skills. Geographic and political representation is also an important factor, especially in areas where Jamaat has not previously won parliamentary seats.

Jamaat’s assistant secretary has indicated that a proposal exists to increase the number of reserved seats from 50 to 100, which would allow Jamaat to nominate approximately 24 candidates. This would broaden the scope of selection and enable more qualified women leaders from various regions to participate. The final list will be approved by the party’s central executive committee once parliamentary discussions begin.