Parliament’s reserved seat declared vacant after Mishti’s resignation

The National Parliament Secretariat on Thursday declared reserved seat-23 vacant following the resignation of BNP lawmaker Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti amid mounting controversy over the demolition of the RADDA MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1.

“The constituency No. 323 of the National Parliament (female reserved seat No. 23) has fallen vacant under Article 67(2) of the Constitution,” the Secretariat said in a notification.

Mishti's resignation marks a turn in a controversy that has put the ruling BNP under growing public pressure over the destruction of the nearly half-century-old health facility.

The resignation comes days after more than 200 masked men allegedly stormed the RADDA MCH-FP Centre on the night of September 24-25.

The attackers allegedly restrained security guards, looted medicines, vaccines and medical equipment before heavy machinery was brought in to demolish the facility.

RADDA had provided primary healthcare, maternity, family-planning and vaccination services to residents of Mirpur for decades, making its destruction particularly sensitive.

The incident quickly developed into a political problem for the BNP, with allegations of involvement by people linked to local party politics.

Mishti is the sister of late BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and the widow of a slain BNP councillor.