Farzana Sharmin

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Farzana Sharmin
ফারজানা শারমিন
Farzana Sharmin.jpg
Sharmin in Dhaka (2025)
Minister of State for Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Alma mater
OccupationLawyer, politician

Farzana Sharmin Putul (born November 1984) [1] is a Bangladeshi lawyer and Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician. She is the incumbent member of Jatiya Sangsad representing the Natore-1 constituency since February 2026. [2]

Contents

Sharmin was a member of the Anti Corruption Commission reform commission of the Muhammad Yunus led interim government during 2024–2026. [3] She has been practicing law at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. [4] As a member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, she served on its Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee, Human Rights Committee, and Media Cell Committee. [5] [6]

Early life and education

Sharmin was born in Bangladesh in November 1984. [1] [7] Her father, Fazlur Rahman Potol, was a State Minister for Youth, Sports, and Communications and a four-time elected Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Natore-1 constituency. [7]

Sharmin pursued legal studies at the University of Dhaka and the University of London, earning undergraduate law degrees from both institutions. [7] She further obtained two master's degrees in law, one from the University of Dhaka and another from BPP University College in London. [7]

Career

Sharmin began her legal career in 2008 as an advocate at the District Court of Bangladesh. [7] In 2012, she was admitted to practice at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. [7] She has built expertise in criminal litigation, judicial review, and constitutional law. [7] She has worked as an associate at the legal firm 'Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Associates' and is currently a partner at RIGHTS Chambers. [7] Additionally, she has served as a legal advisor to various banks, insurance companies, and private enterprises. [7] She is a lawyer of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. [8]

Sharmin is listed as an English-speaking lawyer with the British High Commission’s retained list in Dhaka. [7] She is a member of several legal organizations, including the International Bar Association, the Society of the Middle Temple (England), the Asian Society of International Law (AsiaSIL), and the Dhaka Bar Association. [7]

Sharmin is actively engaged in Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) politics. [7] [9] She serves as a member of the special assistant to the BNP Chairperson’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee. [7] Additionally, she contributes to BNP's Human Rights Committee and Media Cell Committee. [7] In 2023, she was a director of Lysander Tech Limited, based in the United Kingdom. [1]

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government in August 2024, Sharmin was made a member of the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission of the Muhammad Yunus led interim government. [10] She has represented Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, general secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in his challenge of the 15th amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh. [11] [12]

Sharmin won the 2026 Bangladeshi general election contesting at the Natore-1 constituency securing 102,726 votes while his nearest opponent Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abul Kalam Azad got 90,568 votes. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Farzana SHARMIN personal appointments". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Putul: the only elected female MP from Northern Region". BSS. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  3. "AL passed it to stay in power for a long time". The Daily Star. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  4. "BNP joins writ challenging 15th Amendment, hearing begins Wednesday". Prothomalo. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  5. Agencies (24 November 2023). "Bangladesh convicts 98 more opposition activists". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  6. "High Court Verdict Today on Caretaker Government Abolition". rtvonline.com. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Profiles of chair and members of Anti-Corruption Reform Commission". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  8. "BTRC blocks BSS while weeding illegal news sites out". The Daily Star. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  9. "Rajshahi BNP alleges police excess". The Daily Star. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  10. "Govt finalises 5 of 6 reform commissions". The Daily Star. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  11. "HC allows Fakhrul, Parwar to intervene in 15th Amendment case". New Age. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  12. "BNP joins writ challenging 15th Amendment, hearing begins Wednesday". Prothomalo. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.