The number of women contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections starkly exposes the persistent under-representation of women in Bangladesh’s politics. Of the 1,981 candidates competing in the polls, only 78 are women. This glaring imbalance reflects deep-rooted chauvinism and discrimination faced by women with political ambition.
Nearly a third of nominated women candidates are wives, daughters, or relatives of influential men. This indicates how difficult it is for women to participate in politics independently and on their own merit. The reality is particularly troubling given that women constitute half the population but make up less than four percent of electoral candidates. Of these 78 women, only 17 are independents.
A detailed analysis by The Daily Star reveals that around 30 parties have not nominated a single woman candidate. Two-thirds of parliamentary seats have no female contenders at all. Women with familial or marital ties to powerful political figures are far more likely to succeed than those without such connections. Thus, women continue to be viewed as unsuitable serious contenders.
The exclusion of women is especially disheartening given their central role in the 2024 uprising where women mobilised, organised, and took significant risks alongside men. Yet, their participation has not translated into greater political representation; instead, they have increasingly been pushed out of public and political spaces both overtly through exclusion and more insidiously by intimidation.
Anti-women rhetoric has intensified in recent times, sometimes driven by religious-based political groups seeking to silence women’s voices. Even the few women who have dared to contest elections face coordinated online attacks.
Existing legal frameworks provide inadequate protection for women in politics. The Representation of the People Order, 1972 requires political parties to reserve at least 33 percent of committee posts for women, including at the central level. However, most parties have failed to comply with this provision. One of Bangladesh’s largest and oldest parties, the BNP, has nominated fewer than ten women, while Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded none.
Political parties continue to prioritize male candidates in electoral politics shaped by money, patronage, and muscle power. Women nominees are often expected to rely on the backing of fathers, husbands, or brothers.
The proposal by the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission for increasing reserved seats from 50 to 100 with direct elections was not accepted by political parties. Without women representatives included in the July Charter consensus discussions, it is unsurprising that reserved seats remained at only 50 and no provision was made for direct elections.
If serious about democratic reform, both a country’s legitimacy and its commitment to equality, political parties must move beyond tokenism and actively invest in developing women leaders. This includes ensuring they have equal opportunities to compete, win, and shape the future of Bangladesh.