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the number of reserved seats so limited, even one or two nominations matter greatly to us. As such, giving outsiders a chance, even at the interview stage, was both surprising and disappointing.”

Meanwhile, senior BNP leaders also criticised the process being followed, saying that the party allowed almost anyone who bought a nomination form to sit for the interview without proper screening or following the party’s constitution.

Under the party constitution, the BNP parliamentary board is meant to nominate candidates through a panel-based system, with district leaders joining the board and final candidates being chosen from panels prepared by the relevant local units of the constituency.

The party has interviewed over 900 aspirants at its Gulshan chairperson’s office, with the process led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman alongside members of the standing committee.

Party insiders said two former NCP leaders, who resigned from the party, are also being considered for nomination.

Amid the situation, the BNP yesterday completed the list of 36 candidates for the reserved seats for women in parliament, party insiders said.

Among the candidates under discussion are BNP Assistant Secretary Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, BNP Assistant Training Affairs Secretary and former MP Rehana Akter Ranu, BNP Local Government Affairs Assistant Secretary Shammi Akter, BNP leader Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka, and Dhaka District unit BNP General Secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury.

Besides, Salima Begum, daughter of late Secretary General Abdus Salam Talukder; Shakila Farzana, daughter of former BNP whip Syed Wahidul Alam; and Tasnima Sinha, daughter of former state minister Mizanur Rahman Sinha, are also under consideration.

BNP Media Cell member Mahmuda Habiba and Mayer Daak coordinator Sanjida Islam Tulee are also being discussed.

While the party is yet to decide when it will announce the final list of candidates, two standing committee members who took part in the interviews indicated the names may be sent directly to the Election Commission after being finalised by Tarique.

During the interviews, Tarique instructed the aspirants to accept the party’s decision, adding that the party would evaluate those who fail to secure nomination and consider them for future responsibilities.

Meanwhile, a total of 431 aspirants seeking nominations from three political parties, including the BNP, have collected nomination papers from the EC over the past 12 days to contest the 50 reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament.

Of them, 417 were from BNP, 13 from Jamaat-e-Islami, and one from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

However, only three candidates -- Sanjida Islam Tulee, Nilufar Yasmin Moni, and Mahbuba Rahman of BNP -- have submitted their papers till yesterday afternoon.

EC’s Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed the information.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers is April 21. The voting is scheduled for May 12.

BNP and its alliance will get 36 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami and its partners will get 13 seats, and six independent candidates who have formed an alliance will receive one seat.

According to the EC’s published voter list, 298 lawmakers are eligible to vote.