The resignation of National Citizen Party (NCP) Joint Convener Samanta Shermeen has renewed debate over women’s representation and decision-making power in Bangladesh’s political parties, as new research shows most parties are falling short of a legal target for female participation.
In her resignation statement this week, Samanta cited disagreements over the party’s alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, its electoral strategy, the lack of meaningful participation by women and changes to the central committee without a council.
Her departure comes as political parties face a 2030 deadline to ensure at least 33% women’s representation in committees at all levels. A Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study found that only two of 32 parties surveyed had met the target in their central committees.
Women’s representation in electoral politics has also declined. Their share of directly elected MPs fell to 2.36% in the 2026 parliamentary election, the lowest in the past five national elections.
Of the 2,028 candidates in the election, 83 were women, accounting for 4.09% of the total, down from 4.96% in 2024. Only seven women won general seats—six from the BNP and one independent. Including 50 reserved seats, parliament now has 57 female members, or 16.4% of its total membership.
The TIB study, published on November 1, examined the organisational structures and internal governance of 32 parties. It found that women made up 21%–32% of central committees in one party, 11%–20% in 12 parties and 1%–10% in nine. Two parties had no women in their central committees, while six did not disclose the relevant information.
The findings prompted objections from Jamaat-e-Islami, which said women were represented in its central working committee, Majlis-e-Shura and general membership. TIB clarified that its assessment focused on central executive decision-making bodies, not overall membership or separate women’s organisations.
Experts say representation must translate into real influence over party policies, candidate nominations and leadership decisions.
Ferdous Azim, an executive council member of Naripokkho, said women’s presence on committees was not meaningful if they had no role in policymaking or major political decisions. Lipika Rani Biswas of Karmojibi Nari also stressed that women must have equal authority and responsibility within party structures.
Article 90B of the Representation of the People Order requires parties to include a target of at least 33% women in their constitutions, with gradual implementation by 2030. The deadline was extended from 2020 through a 2023 amendment.
A joint study by ActionAid Bangladesh and Wave Foundation found that 72% of respondents believed parties were not taking adequate steps to meet the target. It identified patriarchal party culture, weak political commitment and limited internal democracy as major barriers.
A United Nations report also highlighted situations of “presence without power”, in which women participate in political institutions but lack equal authority, resources and decision-making influence.
The studies point to a wider challenge: increasing the number of women in party committees and parliament will not ensure meaningful representation unless they can influence policies, alliances, nominations and leadership choices.
