Political will and concrete commitments by political parties are essential to ensure women’s leadership and gender equality in Bangladesh, speakers said at a policy dialogue organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) on Wednesday.
Titled “Women’s Leadership, Gender Equality and Political Commitments,” the dialogue was held at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Auditorium in Dhaka, bringing together political leaders, civil society members, academics, lawyers and human rights activists.
Discussions focused on how women’s leadership and gender equality can be advanced through clear political commitments and policy reforms ahead of the next national election.
CGS President Zillur Rahman said that despite women outnumbering men in Bangladesh, female leadership remains strikingly low.
Political parties, he noted, have a narrow approach to nominating women, while commitments made under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have not translated into reality.
“Women played a historic role in the 2024 uprising, but their contributions were not adequately recognized afterwards,” he said, adding that even newly formed political parties have limited female participation. While a women’s commission has been formed, questions remain about its effectiveness. “Without democracy, rule of law and a change in mindset, women’s leadership will not grow,” Rahman said, expressing hope that women would be able to vote independently in the next election.
Nasim Ferdous, founder and president of the Bangladesh Women Leadership Alliance, said women’s constitutional rights are often denied in practice.
“Even when women are more qualified, their progress is blocked,” she said, adding that political representation of women remains weak and often ineffective. “Political parties must accept that they cannot move forward without women.”
Former MP Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia highlighted women’s sacrifices during wartime and their continued exclusion from decision-making.
“True leadership is reflected in action, not words,” she said, calling for the removal of barriers that prevent women from reaching positions of power.
BNP Central Organising Secretary Shama Obaed said gender equality does not exist in Bangladesh and that political parties reflect the inequalities present in society.
She called for mandatory quotas for women at all organizational levels and criticized the ineffectiveness of the women’s commission.
She also raised concerns about online harassment and the spread of misinformation about women using artificial intelligence, urging stronger action from the Election Commission.
Nazmul Hossain, general secretary of the National Socialist Party, said women’s independence has increased significantly, but leadership opportunities must be legally ensured. “Development will not come through rhetoric alone,” he said.
President of the Bangladesh Women Entrepreneurs Association Nasreen Fatema Awal said women face barriers starting from the family level, compounded by limited access to finance and information.
She called for a 33% women’s quota in parliament, low-interest financial support, a National Women Leadership Academy, mentorship programs, daycare facilities for working women and a gender-responsive national budget.
Professor Dr Syed Md Saikh Imtiaz of Dhaka University said nearly 70% of women do not feel safe, calling it a major policy failure.
“Women are currently experiencing the worst time in Bangladesh’s history,” he said, noting declining safety and inclusivity despite women’s active role in recent movements.
Senior Vice President of Gano Odhikar Parishad Faruk Hasan said discrimination—often justified through misinterpretation of religion—remains a key obstacle to women’s empowerment.
“Bangladesh must become a country where there is no place for discrimination or violence,” he said.
Corporate Sales Manager of Robi Axiata and founder of Tagra BD Tahreem Khan Zahid emphasised that equality does not mean sameness, but rather addressing women’s specific needs through strong support systems.
Chairperson of Universal Medical College and Hospital Limited Priti Chakraborty, said women’s representation stands at 26% across sectors and only 10% in the corporate sector, reflecting slow and uneven progress.
Organizational Secretary of Khelafat Majlis Kazi Minhazul Alam stressed the need to recognize human dignity above gender, while advocate Elina Khan said leadership development must begin at home and in schools through changes in attitude.
Trans feminist and rights activist Ho Chi Minh Islam criticised the exclusion of third-gender women from post-revolution processes, while Lamiya Islam, president of the State Reform Student Movement, said women’s historical contributions—from the Liberation War to recent movements—remain under-recognized.
