Shirin Akhter lone woman runner

Shirin Akhter Banu is the lone woman candidate in the eleven parliamentary constituencies in greater Dinajpur (Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts) in the upcoming parliamentary election.
She is contesting as an independent candidate in Thakurgaon-2 ( Baliadangi-Haripur ) constituency with the symbol “Cock".
Shirin was the president of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, Thakurgaon pourashava unit until resigning for contesting the election.
Initially she tried to get her party ticket but when she was denied nomination by BNP as the seat was allocated to Jamaat-e-Islami she decided to run as an independent candidate from the constituency.
Talking to The Daily Star Shirin said, " I want to realise women's rights and develop awareness among them against repression of women. If the female voters understand that woman leadership will help realize their demand they will vote for me."
In the constituency, AL-led Grand Alliance candidate Dabirul Islam and BNP-led four Party alliance candidate Jamaat leader Maulana Abdul Hakim are contesting in the upcoming election.
Dabirul Islam was elected from the constituency four times in 1986, 1991,1996 and 2001.