Gender-sensitive agendas and political representation in Bangladesh's electoral politics

Experts have voiced concern over the low participation of women candidates in the upcoming national election, questioning the credibility of political parties' commitments to women's rights when women remain largely excluded from decision-making.

They also stressed that women must have the right to decide their own priorities, speaking at a roundtable titled Gender-Sensitive Agendas in Politics held at The Business Standard (TBS) conference room in Dhaka's Eskaton on 5 February.

The event was jointly organised by TBS and the Feminist Leadership Coalition (FLC), with Associate Editor Saleem Ahmed moderating the discussion.

Taslima Akter

Member, Central Executive Committee, Ganosamhati Andolon

The upcoming election is not merely a change of power – it is a historic opportunity to move beyond the politics of fear of the past 15 years and rebuild Bangladesh anew. Yet whenever women's political rights are raised, excuses about timing keep coming up. In reality, it is women's absence from law-making and policy-making spaces that continues to sustain discrimination.

I believe that without women's direct representation in parliament, women's citizenship rights cannot be ensured. Although there was a demand to create special arrangements for women to contest directly beyond the 50 reserved seats, that demand was never implemented. Instead, political parties limited themselves to a 5% nomination promise. As a result, women make up only 3.6% of all candidates in this election.

In this context, I have entered the election myself as part of the women's movement. If we step away thinking politics or voting is bad, women's voices will never reach parliament. Laws are made in parliament, and those laws still do not favour women in areas such as property rights, guardianship, and child marriage. That is why women must organise and claim space in policy-making.

Over the last 15 years, fear has intensified for women, minorities, Dalits, and other marginalised communities. To break this fear, women must be recognised not as victims but as full citizens. I prefer the term deprived of opportunities rather than backward, because opportunities have been taken away from us.

I believe the greatest protection for women is awareness and collective organisation. Building pressure groups and working at the policy level is now essential. This election is not a personal bid for power for me; it is part of a movement. Winning or losing matters less than making women's voices visible and continuing the struggle for full citizenship and dignity.

Mahmuda Begum

Executive Director, Shobujer Ovijan Foundation

This event is organised by the Feminist Leadership Committee (FLC), which brings together 13 organisations dedicated to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. We believe that women's marginalisation makes such coordination essential. The committee aims to expand its network across the country so that women leaders and ordinary women alike receive equal opportunities and recognition.

Our aim is to ensure women's political rights, as well as protection for domestic workers, agricultural and garment labourers, and other marginalised women. We speak about gender equality, but the highest level of discrimination is clearly visible in the electoral arena. Even though Bangladesh ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women more than three decades ago, discrimination against women continues, especially in voting processes and leadership roles.

Lipi Rahman

Executive Director, Badabon Sangho

How far behind we still are and why women's issues continue to receive so little importance in political discourse. Even when these issues do get some attention, it often turns into trolling rather than serious discussion. At times, we hear promises that women will be given everything, and at other times, we are told we will get nothing at all. This inconsistency clearly shows that women's concerns are still not taken seriously.

We all live as citizens within a modern state system. But the real question is: how women-friendly is this state and its politics, and how inclusive is it of marginalised communities? Despite the provision in the Representation of the People Order to ensure 33% women's representation in political parties, not a single party has implemented this to date.

One major reason is that the mindset of our society and political system has not yet reached a point where women are naturally accepted as leaders, representatives, or decision-makers. Through my work at the grassroots level, I see that gender-friendly issues cannot depend only on elections or changes in government. Alongside political reform, raising awareness among the broader population is equally essential.

We see that women labourers still do not receive labour cards. Even when they apply, they face countless obstacles. When women workers try to form cooperatives, they are told the word women cannot be used in registration. Despite doing the same work, women do not receive equal wages – Dalit women and Harijan women face even greater exploitation. Women farmers still lack official recognition and farmer cards. Women are also deprived of inheritance and property rights.

When women step outside their homes – for work, school, or college – we must remain constantly alert. Regardless of age or clothing, verbal abuse, harassment, and cyberbullying are everyday realities for us. The reality today is that women outnumber men as voters, and women's votes can change election outcomes. Still, women's leadership is not accepted with the seriousness it deserves.

Latifa Yasmin Lovely

Executive Director, Katnarpara Nari Unnayan Sangstha

Sustainable employment opportunities are essential for women returning from abroad. Proper employment systems – especially in garments or other industrial sectors that can operate in local towns – are crucial.

Such initiatives would help women gain recognition and respect from their families, society, and the nation. Proper counselling and employment opportunities are also necessary so returning women can reclaim their rights, live independently, and actively contribute to national development.

Bipasha Saed

Regional Coordinator, Sangat

None of the political parties currently campaigning has even 5% women candidates. Parties with no women representatives are preparing to form governments or become major opposition forces. How will they understand women's needs, thoughts, and lived realities when women are completely absent from their structures?

Women must define their own needs – men can be allies, but they cannot impose decisions on women. I am also deeply concerned about the heightened risk of post-election violence against marginalised communities, particularly Hindu women, indigenous women, and other minority women. In response, civil society organisations are planning to form a watch group to provide emergency support to victims of post-election violence, especially women.

Sonu Rani Das

Executive Director, Dalit Nari Unnoyon Sangstha

Dalit women remain at the margins of social and economic inequality. During national elections, political parties talk about women's development, but in reality, the pressing issues affecting Dalit women's lives are rarely addressed. Many Dalit women still struggle to access basic resources, fair wages, and safe working environments.

Therefore, it is crucial to create safe employment opportunities for Dalit women, along with initiatives to improve education and capacity building, ensuring they can participate fully in society and the economy. I urge political parties to include Dalit women's rights in their election manifestos. Dalit women face double discrimination – first as women, and then as Dalits.

Dr Farzana Haque

Physician, Bandhu Social Welfare Society

When it comes to the hijra community, political representatives rarely engage with us. There are no concrete promises addressing hijra people's deprivation in education, healthcare, and employment.

Banasree Doli

Representative, Jago Nari Unnayon Sangstha

With just a few days remaining until the election, the key question revolves around women's voter participation and political empowerment. Three issues are particularly crucial – the strength of women's organisations, effective solutions for marginalised women, and the willingness of political parties to ensure women's participation.

Despite long-standing efforts by numerous women's groups and civil society, women's participation remains limited without proper coordination with political parties. No matter how active NGOs and women's organisations are, their impact will remain limited if political parties do not provide a supportive environment. Therefore, ensuring women's voter participation, representation among electoral candidates, and a safe voting environment requires close coordination with political parties.

The biggest challenge now is whether the progress achieved by those who have long worked for women's empowerment will be sustained, and to what extent women can participate and make their presence felt.

Mahpara Alam

Programme Specialist, BLAST

From my perspective, translating political commitments into real action for women is complex. The focus must be threefold: first, legal reforms and the formulation of women-friendly policies; second, addressing community-based and social challenges; and third, strengthening institutional mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of those policies.

Roksana Sultana

Executive Director, Breaking the Silence

I believe women themselves often fail to stand in solidarity with one another. The absence of collective resistance against violence and derogatory remarks has only worsened the situation. Political parties say they will treat women like queens – but we do not want to be queens; we want to work.

Nasrin Jahan

Executive Director, Disabled Child Foundation

Our women's movement has made progress in many areas, but women with disabilities remain largely excluded due to marginalisation. They are at the lowest levels in every aspect of life, including education, health, employment, and political rights. Therefore, it is essential that the women's movement specifically addresses the issues faced by women with disabilities.

Women with disabilities are present across all marginalised communities – among farmers, in rural areas, and in remote regions – and their needs differ from those of other women. Policies and initiatives must be tailored to their specific requirements to enable them to participate actively in society.

Currently, only a few women with disabilities serve as members of Union Councils and participate in political processes. Their representation within the broader women's population remains very low. Neglecting them within the women's movement will hinder the progress and empowerment of marginalised and disabled women.

Ismet Jarin

Operations Director, Awaj Foundation

In professional spaces, women often have to overcome countless obstacles and make enormous sacrifices just to fulfil their responsibilities. This reality keeps resurfacing. At the same time, serious questions remain about how women-friendly our work environments actually are – and whether they are truly safe and supportive for women.

Trisha Kar

Representative, Nijera Kori

Women's position is becoming increasingly constrained, with opportunities and supportive environments shrinking from all sides. Even before 5 August, there was insecurity, but women did not move around with such fear. Since then, fear and insecurity in public spaces have become far more pronounced.