Female political candidates in Bangladesh are increasingly facing cyber harassment, online abuse, and AI-driven attacks as the nation heads toward the upcoming elections, highlighting persistent barriers to women’s political participation.
Women have played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s political history—from the Language Movement and Liberation War to mass uprisings, including the July revolt. Female students, professionals, and homemakers have long stood shoulder to shoulder with men. Yet, despite growing efforts toward a more egalitarian society, women candidates now confront targeted character attacks, sexual harassment, misinformation, and orchestrated online campaigns.
Several candidates reported organized cyberbullying and threats aimed at silencing their voices.
Dilshana Parul, National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate for Dhaka-19, said her decision to wear a headscarf made her a prime target for online trolling. “Not only BNP or leftist supporters, but even so-called progressive women are involved. I think I have been the most targeted in online bullying,” she said.
Parul also cited physical threats to her campaign workers. “Recently, my team was attacked at a rural electricity site. This morning, I received two calls saying a former ward commissioner in Ashulia is threatening my female workers to prevent them from voting. Whenever it appears BNP might lose, threats intensify,” she said.
She added that while male politicians face criticism over corruption or policy matters, female candidates are mostly targeted for their character. “I will continue working in the field. I will develop my constituency,” Parul affirmed.
Nabila Tasnid, NCP candidate from Dhaka-20, said her campaign had not been peaceful or equal. “Our banners and festoons have been torn down. When we reported it to the authorities, they asked for photos or videos of the incident. This clearly shows where their support lies,” she said. Tasnid accused a coalition-backed group of spreading false propaganda and portraying women’s leadership negatively.
“They are misleading voters by claiming society will not accept women leaders. Their supporters post negative comments online and spread false information. Character attacks remain the most common tool against women candidates,” she said. Tasnid pledged that if elected, she would focus on agricultural development, farmers’ rights, employment opportunities, technical education, women’s development, and government-approved overseas opportunities for women.
Taslima Akhter, candidate from Dhaka-12 representing Gonoshonghoti Andolon, said: “People have an inherent tendency to demean others. When it’s a woman, it becomes easier. Online bullying is much simpler than confronting someone directly.” She added that the attacks would not deter her and outlined her priorities: women’s rights and safety, free education up to grade twelve, and combating corruption, extortion, and drug syndicates.
Shireen Parveen Haque, chairperson of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, said, “Degrading women is embedded in our culture. Female candidates face amplified scrutiny during elections. They are seen as power-hungry, which is unacceptable to many. Even political parties exhibit negative attitudes toward nominating women. Society focuses on women’s character rather than their abilities. When women enter politics and receive nominations, many cannot tolerate it. Hence, online and offline campaigns aim to spread negativity against them.”
Experts warn that cyber harassment of women candidates has become a deliberate political strategy. They say without decisive intervention by the Election Commission and authorities, emerging female leaders will face even greater challenges in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
