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Rizvi, who also serves as an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, handed over the first nomination form to Zareen Delawar.

He later distributed forms to several other aspirants, including Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Arifa Sultana Ruma, Sabina Khan, Shawkat Ara Akhter, Rokeya Chowdhury Baby, Mina Begum, Farida Yasmin, Meherunnesa Haque and Peyara Mostofa.

On the first day, over 500 nomination forms were collected by aspirants, said BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan.

Aspirants expressed confidence that the party would properly evaluate their contributions with due consideration, adding that they would accept the party’s decision.

Several hundred women leaders of BNP gathered at the Nayapaltan office to collect forms. Many stood in queues and paid Tk 2,000 each to obtain the receipt required for the form.

Earlier, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced the schedule for the election to the women’s reserved seats.

As per the schedule, nomination papers may be submitted until April 21, while scrutiny will take place on April 22-23. Appeals against the scrutiny decision may be filed on April 26, and those appeals will be disposed of on April 27-28. Symbols will be allotted to the final candidates on April 30.

The EC said all necessary preparations to hold the election in a peaceful and orderly manner have been completed.

According to the seat distribution, the BNP-led alliance will receive 36 reserved seats, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance will receive 13, while independents will get one.