Women must be involved in deciding what they want: Experts

Experts have voiced concern over the low participation of women candidates in the upcoming national election, raising questions about how political parties' promises on women's rights can be when women themselves are largely excluded from decision-making.

They also said that women should have the right to make their own decisions, at a roundtable "Gender-Sensitive Agendas in Politics," at The Business Standard (TBS) conference room in Eskaton of the capital today (5 February).

TBS and the Feminist Leadership Coalition (FLC) jointly organised it, with the newspaper's Associate Editor Saleem Ahmed, in the moderation.

Taslima Akter, a candidate of Ganosamhati Andolon contesting from Dhaka-12, said women's rights cannot be secured unless women are present in lawmaking and policymaking bodies. 

"There has been repeated discussion about increasing women's participation in direct elections beyond reserved seats, but it has never been implemented," she said.

Explaining her decision to contest the election, Taslima said she wanted to challenge the perception that politics and elections are inherently "dirty".

"If women's voices are to reach parliament, they must actively engage not only in movements but also in electoral battles," she said, arguing that women should not be described as "backward."

Lipi Rahman, executive director of NGO Badabon Sangho, said women's issues remain marginal in Bangladesh's political perspective. Although the issues get priority in party manifestos during the election, these face 'trolls' on social media instead of discussion.

She said despite longstanding commitments to ensure 33 percent women's representation within party structures; no political party has yet implemented it.

Women remain largely absent from leadership and decision-making spaces despite women making up a majority of voters, she said.

Bipasha Saed, regional coordinator of the feminist network Sangat, said none of the parties currently campaigning has even five percent women candidates.

"Parties with no women representatives are poised to form governments or become major opposition forces. How will they understand women's needs, thoughts, and realities when women are entirely absent from their structures?" she questioned.

She stressed that women must define their own needs. "Men can be allies, but they cannot impose decisions on women," she said.

Bipasha also warned of a heightened risk of post-election violence against marginalised communities, particularly Hindu women, indigenous women, and other minority women.

In response, she said civil society organisations are planning to form a "watch group" to provide emergency support to victims of post-election violence, especially women.

Mahmuda Begum, executive director of Shobujer Ovijan Foundation, said they talk about gender equality, but the highest level of discrimination is visible in the electoral arena.

Despite Bangladesh ratifying the CEDAW convention over three decades ago, discrimination against women persists, particularly in voting and leadership, she said.

Roksana Sultana, executive director of Breaking the Silence, said women themselves often fail to stand in solidarity as the absence of collective resistance against violence and derogatory remarks has worsened the situation.

"Political parties say they will treat women like queens, but we do not want to be queens—we want to work," she said.

Highlighting the situation of women with disabilities, Nasrin Jahan, executive director of Disabled Child Foundation, said disabled women are the most marginalised even among marginalised groups.

"Laws and policies exist, but implementation is weak," she said, calling for accessible polling centres and the protection of voting rights.

Urging political parties to include Dalit women's rights in election manifestos, Sonu Rani Das, executive director of Dalit Nari Unnoyon Sangstha, said Dalit women face double discrimination—first as women and then as Dalits.

Banasree Doli, a representative of Jago Nari Unnayon Sangstha, expressed concern that the progress women have made so far could be reversed.

Regarding the hijra community, Dr Farzana Haque of Bandhu Social Welfare Society said political representatives rarely engage with hijra communities.

"There are no concrete promises addressing their deprivation in education, healthcare, and employment," she said.