Dhaka: Despite being globally recognized for microfinance initiatives empowering women, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh has failed to institutionally secure women’s political participation, a report released on Thursday stated.
The report highlighted that despite a reformist agenda, the interim government did not take concrete steps to safeguard or expand women’s presence in political decision-making processes. This inaction poses a risk of further decline in women’s political participation at a time when political party structures are actively limiting their entry.
According to a report in The Daily Star, following the deadline for nomination withdrawals last week ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 12, women accounted for just over four percent of candidates contesting general seats, excluding two constituencies. Moreover, none of the 30 registered political parties fielded any female candidates.
The report stated, “This is not an issue of candidate shortage but a structural divide. Women are consistently present in governance and service delivery roles but are systematically excluded from competitive political power. It shows that women in Bangladesh are professionally prepared for development but not politically prepared for governance.”
Referring to a previous report, it mentioned that despite recommendations by the Bangladesh National Consensus Commission that each political party nominate women candidates for at least five percent of general seats, most parties did not comply. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) nominated only 3.5 percent women candidates, while Jamaat-e-Islami did not field any women.
The report also noted that some smaller parties initially nominated a few women candidates but later withdrew many of their names. Former women’s affairs reform commissioners and women’s rights activists criticized political parties for failing to honor their commitments and restricting women’s political participation. This situation exposes the persistent underrepresentation of women in Bangladeshi elections despite prior agreements and long-standing efforts.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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