Although the Election Commission’s registration rules for political parties stipulate that they will have 33% female members in their committees by 2020, the authorities concerned did not form a body to monitor the matter, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.
They expressed doubt over whether the goal could be achieved, saying that the major political parties do not have a significant number of women but have female party chiefs.
Forty parties registered with the EC brought changes to their constitutions in line with the EC rules in 2008.
Speakers said it was impossible to achieve success in this regard without any monitoring cell in a country where laws have to be enacted to implement gender equalities inside parties.
EC Joint Secretary Jesmin Tuli said a monitoring body was yet to be formed to keep the political parties under observation.
Addressing the discussion held at Cirdap auditorium in the capital, Shushashoner Janney Nagarik General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said: “Due to the existing election system, the reserved-seat women members of parliament have no specific constituency where they can initiate development work.”
“Moreover, till now, it is seen that these lawmakers are selected only from the ruling party. As they do not engage in any work in constituencies, they have no accountability either,” he added.
Speakers suggested that women members of the parliament be elected through direct polls.
Badiul said: “To achieve the goal of including 33% female members in the committees of political parties, the government can introduce rotational election system so that women candidates can fight directly for one-third of the seats. If the system rotates, the opportunity for female candidates to fight against males will be strengthened.”
Awami League’s Publicity and Publications Secretary Hasan Mahmud urged all political parties to stay united for the greater interest of the country.
The speakers also talked about issues such as quality female education, and reasons why female students are reluctant to build carrier in politics.
At the roundtable, leaders of three leading political parties agreed to work together to ensure women empowerment in politics.