The Election Commission on Monday announced that voting for the 50 reserved women’s seats in parliament will be held on May 12.

The EC will announce the election schedule on April 8, said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed at a media briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the chair.

Deadlines for submission, scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers will be specified in the schedule, he said.

According to existing law, reserved women’s seats in parliament are allocated in proportion to the number of general seats won by political parties.

Members elected to general seats cast votes to elect MPs to the reserved seats.

In the 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured 209 seats. Its allies — Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) and Ganosamhati Andolon — won one seat each.

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami, winning 68 seats, represents the opposition. Its allies—NCP won six seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish two seats, and Khelafat Majlish one seat.

Outside the two alliances, Islami Andolan Bangladesh won one seat, and seven candidates were elected as independents.

According to the law, the EC must hold elections for the reserved women seats within 90 days after the publication of the gazette of elected members which was issued on February 13, the day after the general election.

Letters have been sent to parties and alliances regarding the allocation of reserved seats.

After finalising the number of reserved seats by party and alliance, the schedule will be announced.

According to the preliminary allocation, the BNP-led alliance may get 36 seats, the Jamaat-led alliance 13, and the independents’ bloc 1 seat.

Polling in Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6 constituencies will be held on April 9.