Eight women enter Rajshahi Division race, highlighting growing female leadership in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election. Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Eight women are contesting the forthcoming 13th national parliamentary election in Rajshahi Division, where a total of 203 candidates are vying for seats in 39 constituencies.

According to the election schedule, 260 nomination papers were initially submitted in the division. After scrutiny, 203 nominations were declared valid.

The women candidates include independent candidate Habiba Begum in Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohanpur); BNP-nominated Advocate Farzana Sharmin Putul in Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara); Tahamida Islam Tania of Ganosanghati Andolon in Natore-2 (Natore Sadar and Naldanga); Mallika Khatun of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) in Sirajganj-1 (Kazipur and part of Sirajganj Sadar); Ilora Khatun of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) in Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur); Toufika Dewan of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD-Marxist) and independent candidate Sabekun Nahar Shikha in Joypurhat-1 (Joypurhat and Panchbibi); and Advocate Dilruba Nuri of BASAD in Bogura-6 (Sadar).

Habiba Begum, contesting from Rajshahi-3, is from Singhmara village in Mohanpur Upazila. Her husband, Masud Rana, is a former women's affairs secretary of the Upazila Krishak League.

In Natore-1, BNP nominee Advocate Farzana Sharmin Putul is the daughter of late BNP leader and former state minister Fazlur Rahman Patol. She is also a joint convener of the Natore District BNP. 

Farzana Sharmin said she has long been involved in BNP politics and is contesting to enhance women's participation in politics and represent ordinary people in parliament. She said her political goal is to establish women's rights alongside the rights of working people and marginalized communities.

Ganosamhati Andolon candidate Tahamida Islam Tania is contesting Natore-2 with the 'Mathal' symbol. Active in politics since her student life, she served as president of the Bangladesh Students Federation's Jagannath University unit in 2008. 

She is currently a member of the Krishak-Majur Central Solidarity Committee and convener of the party's Natore district committee. Tahamida said she aims to work for women's rights and marginalized communities, describing the election as a platform to make women's leadership visible.

In Sirajganj-1, GOP nominee Mallika Khatun is the joint member secretary of the party's district committee. An MSc graduate, she hails from Ruperber village in Ratankandi Union under Sirajganj Sadar Upazila. 

She said she entered politics from a farming background with a commitment to public service and plans to focus on river erosion control, agricultural modernization and development of char areas if elected.

JSD candidate Ilora Khatun is contesting Sirajganj-6. She is an assistant secretary of the party's central committee and convener of its Shahjadpur Upazila unit. Holding honors and master's degrees in economics, she comes from a politically active family and said she wants to stand beside ordinary people.

In Joypurhat-1, BASAD candidate Toufika Dewan is contesting with the 'Scissors' symbol. She said farmers' conditions have not improved over decades and pledged to work for farmers' unity and rights, noting that both men and women are deeply involved in agriculture.

In the same constituency, independent candidate Sabekun Nahar Shikha, a former Panchbibi Upazila Parishad chairman, is also in the race. She was removed from office following the July mass uprising that led to the fall of the government. 

Sabekun Nahar said women candidates face numerous obstacles despite rhetoric on empowerment and said she decided to contest independently after being unable to complete her term as upazila chairman. She pledged to work against terrorism and unemployment if elected.

In Bogura-6 (Sadar), BASAD candidate Advocate Dilruba Nuri is the only woman contestant in the district. 

She is the member secretary of the Bogura District BASAD and is contesting against BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami city amir Abidur Rahman (Sohel), Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Abu Numan Md. Mamunur Rashid and JSD candidate Abdullah Al Waki. 

Nuri said contesting against a party chief is challenging, but she remains hopeful.