The 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections have recorded the lowest number of elected women and minority lawmakers in the past five parliamentary polls.

Seven women candidates and four candidates from religious and ethnic minority communities were elected in the February 12 polls, according to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission.

In comparison, 20 women and 14 minority candidates were elected in the 12th JS polls held on January 7, 2024. The 11th JS elections on December 30, 2018 saw 22 women and 18 minority candidates win, the 10th JS polls on January 5, 2014 recorded 18 women and 15 minority representatives and in the 9th JS elections on December 29, 2008, 19 women and 14 minority candidates secured seats.

In the 13th JS elections,  78 women and 70 candidates from religious and ethnic minority communities contested.

Among the elected women, BNP candidate Tahsina Rushdir Luna won Sylhet-2 with 1,17,956 votes, defeating Muhammad Muntasir Ali of Khelafat Majlis. Tahsina is the wife of ‘disappeared’ BNP leader M Ilias Ali.

In Jhalakathi-2, BNP’s Ishrat Sultana Elen Bhutto secured 1,13,100 votes to defeat Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Neyamul Karim.

BNP candidate Farzana Sharmin won Natore-1 with 1,02,197 votes, defeating Jamaat’s Abul Kalam Azad.

In Faridpur-2, BNP’s Shama Obaed Islam secured 1,21,694 votes. Her nearest competitor was Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis candidate Md Akram Ali.

BNP’s Afroza Khanam was elected from Manikganj-3 with 1,67,345 votes, defeating Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis candidate Muhammad Saeed Noor.

In Faridpur-3, BNP candidate Nayab Yusuf Ahmed won with 1,48,545 votes. He beat Jamaat candidate Md Abdut Tawab.

In Brahmanbaria-2, independent candidate Rumeen Farhana was elected with 1,17,495 votes, defeating Junaid Al Habib of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. Jamiat was a component of the BNP-led electoral alliance.

Rumeen, BNP’s former assistant secretary for foreign affairs, was expelled from the party as she ran for candidacy against the party’s decision.

Four BNP-nominated candidates from religious and ethnic minority communities won the parliamentary polls.

BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy won Dhaka-3 with 98,785 votes, defeating Jamaat candidate Md Shahinur Islam.

In Magura-2, BNP leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury secured 1,47,896 votes, defeating Jamaat candidate Md Mushtarshed Billah.

In Bandarban, BNP-nominated Saching Pru won with 1,41,455 votes, defeating National Citizen Party candidate Abu Sayeed Md Suza Uddin.

In Rangamati, BNP leader Dipen Dewan secured 2,01,544 votes to defeat independent candidate Pahel Chakma.