One of the more unfortunate realities of Bangladesh’s political landscape has been the lack of women’s participation in it, at least to any meaningful degree. While the nation has seen two prominent women shepherd the country for much of its recent history at the highest seat of power, overall, women’s participation has been severely lacking.
While the interim government has seen its fair share of criticisms, that one-fourth of the current cabinet comprises women, respected figures in their own fields, is most definitely worth celebrating and should set a precedent for political parties in Bangladesh from here on in.
To say that women played a crucial role in the student uprising against Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic rule would be an understatement -- even setting aside the more prominent female figures who led the uprising, countless young girls and women took to the streets during the movement directly championing the cause of anti-discriminatory practices in governance and the restoration of democracy in general. Which is why, any parties contesting the upcoming elections need to ensure that women are adequately represented among their ranks.
Historically speaking, women in Bangladesh have always faced challenges owing to deeply-rooted patriarchal beliefs which still persist in our culture. While Bangladesh has understood the importance of women’s participation in the economy, now is the time for the country to make similar revelations about their participation in governance as well.
It is imperative that Bangladesh started actively working towards a more diverse political landscape, a landscape that continues to be overwhelmingly male-dominated. We should not settle for becoming a democratic nation once again, but strive to imbue our lost democracy with the equity and representation it so desperately requires.
