Showbiz celebrities go home without AL reserved seat nominations

Some of the candidates who bought nomination papers have achieved stardom and fame in the showbiz arena, but they have had no activities in politics.

The dreams of celebrities, film stars, and television actors who applied for the Awami League’s party nominations for the reserved women seats in the 12th parliament, have been shattered following the announcement of the names of the nominated candidates for the reserved women's seats. 

Notable actors who collected nomination papers included Shomi Kaiser, Apu Biswas, Nipun Akhter, Syeda Kamrun Naher Shahnoor, Urmila Srabanti Kar, Sohana Saba, Tanven Sweety, Nusraat Faira, Meher Afroz Shaon and Tareen Jahan. 

However, the Awami League nominated none of them. 

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has nominated only the leaders who have sacrificed for the party.

Some of the candidates who bought nomination papers have achieved stardom and fame in the showbiz arena, but they have had no activities in politics. They met influential leaders of the Awami League on the days of the sales of the party’s nomination forms.A number of celebrities collected nomination forms. 

However, the ruling party did not give the party’s nomination papers to any showbiz star. 

Awami League Cultural Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil told Dhaka Tribune: “Everyone can ask for nomination. Even though the movement of people from the industrial sector in the Awami League has increased, in the final consideration, candidates are selected based on who was in the field and who sacrificed for the party.”

The party announced the names of the nominated candidates for the reserved women's seats in the 12th parliament on Wednesday. 

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of 48 candidates after the Parliamentary Nomination Board meeting held at Ganabhaban.

The nominees are Rezia Islam-Panchgarh, Droupadi Devi Agarwar-Thakurgaon, Ashika Sultana-Nilphamari, Rokeya Sultana-Joypurhat, Kohli Quddus-Natore, Zebin Mahbub-Chapainawabganj, Runu Reza-Khulna, Farida Akhtar-Bagerhat, Farzana Sumi-Barguna, Khaleda Bahan-Bhola , Nazneen Nahar-Patuakhali, Farida Yasmin-Narsingdi, Umme Farzana-Mymensingh, Nadia Binte Amin-Netrokona, Mahfuza Sultana Molly-Joypurhat, Parveen Zaman Kalpana-Jhenaidah, Aroma Dutta- Cumilla, Laila Parveen-Satkhira,  Begum Monnujan Sufian-Khulna, Badhura Ahmed Salam-Gopalganj, Shabnam Jahan-Dhaka, Parul Akhtar-Dhaka, Sabera Begum-Dhaka, Shammi Ahmed-Barisal, Nahid Izhar-Dhaka, Jharna Hassan-Faridpur, Fazilatunnessa-Munshiganj, Sahida Tarikh Dipti-Dhaka, Anima Mukti Gomez -Dhaka, Sheikh Anarkali-Dhaka, Masuda Siddique Rozi-Narsingdi, Tarana Halim-Tangail, Begum Shamsunnahar-Tangail, Meher Afroz Chumki-Gazipur, Aparajita-Tangail, Hasina Bari Chowdhury-Dhaka, Najma Akhtar-Gopalganj, Aruna Chakraborty-Sylhet, Faridur Nahar Laili-Laxmipur, Ashrafun Nessa-Laxmipur, Kanan Ara Begum-Noakhali, Shamima Haroon Lubna-Chittagong, Farida Khanam-Noakhali, Delara Yusuf-Chittagong, Wasika Ayesha-Chittagong, Darthi-Rangamati, Sanjida Khanam-Dhaka, Nasima Zaman- Rangpur.

There are 50 reserved seats for women in parliament, allocated in a manner where each political party receives one reserved seat for every six general seats won.

According to the provision, the Awami League secured 48 seats based on its own and its independents' support.

The sale of application forms for the reserved seats began on February 6 at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

The Awami League sold 1,553 nomination forms for its 48 reserved women's seats.

Obaidul Quader said the nominations will be submitted  to the returning officer of the Election Commission on February 18.

The Election Commission has finalized March 14 as the date of voting for the 50 seats reserved for women in the 12th parliament.