In the Constitution of Bangladesh, article 28, clause 2 stipulates that men and women are to be granted equal rights at all stages and tiers of government and public life. Achieving gender equality and giving women and girls more decision-making authority are also targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.
The new model for women's development that is currently being considered on a worldwide scale has mostly concentrated on four areas, one of which is the political empowerment of women. These areas also consist of the political empowerment of women; women's ownership of land and natural resources; decent working conditions, wages, and remuneration; and peace and justice or fairness.
Participation in politics on the part of women is a necessary pre-condition for both gender equality and an authentic democracy. It is even more crucial for young girls to see other young women in leadership positions since this can improve their sense of self-worth, confidence, and elevate their aspirations.
The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) came to the realization that ensuring the country's institutional democracy and accelerating economic development was not possible without the political empowerment of women. As a result, the EC issued the Representation of the People Order (RPO) with the goal of ensuring that at least 33% of women would participate in all committees of political parties by the year 2020.
According to media sources, the percentage of women in the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is 23%, while the percentage in the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is 13%. During the general elections in 2018, the Awami League nominated 20 women for office, which is 7.3% of their total, whereas the BNP nominated 16 women, which is 5.3% of their total. There were also 22 female winners of single constituency seats. Sheikh Hasina, the honourable prime minister of Bangladesh, is one of the 19 victors of these seats from the party currently in power, the Awami League. In the 11th Parliament also adding in the reserved seats, there are 72 female MPs.
Despite these figures, an essential question is whether Bangladesh has been able to develop meaningful and influential leadership positions for women. Young women who have the potential to become leaders often do not have access to grassroots development activities or the opportunity to practice grassroots politics because the reserve system does not use direct elections, and there are no well-targeted constituencies for such members of parliament.
The women who hold leadership positions in the allocated seats are likewise often denied the ability to be accountable to the general population. When the political environment of Bangladesh is considered, members of parliament elected to the reserved seats for women do not usually play a particularly influential role.
A member of parliament who did not win their seat through the popular vote represents the entire territory of the country. As a result, members of parliament elected from reserved seats often play a subservient role.
People in the country who are attentive and progressive believe that, because women make up half of the population, political parties' central and local committees -- in order to be effective -- need a considerable number of female leaders. This fact is again readily apparent since women of course make up half of the country. And since the founding of Bangladesh, women have been claiming the right to participate in democratic elections.
The civil society has asked the EC to require political parties to propose a certain number of women for positions in both national and local elections. Considering this, former CEC Nurul Huda has said that it is functionally impossible for the EC to compel any political party to select women for electoral positions. Rather the EC can merely offer the parties support and encouragement, he added.
In addition to boosting the percentage of women who hold leadership positions, there is also a need to discover a way to empower women politically. Political parties, election commissions, national civil society groups, and international organizations can collaborate to advance women's political empowerment and capacity building.
There will be more successful, innovative, skilled, and courageous women leaders if young women leaders' political knowledge and skills are improved and if there are public and private initiatives for women's engagement in economic activities.
The EC can offer assistance to political parties through providing training, especially for younger political activists. This would enable the youth leadership of political parties to receive appropriate orientation and training on topics such as gender and development; gender and women's political leadership; non-violent politics, inclusion, and development; civic rights and responsibilities of citizens; and parliamentary procedures.
It's important to provide gender-based orientation and training for the younger generations of male politicians to create male allies who enable an environment for women's political empowerment in Bangladesh. Additionally, if there is a demand for it, international organizations can provide training assistance to young potential members of political parties.
Bangladesh needs to find a means to generate politically competent women leaders if we want to bring forth women who are suitable for the management of the state or who can contribute to the activities of the parliament.
To establish an environment that is secure for the region's women and girls, the EC may collaborate with the relevant law enforcement agencies to hold regular exchange meetings, workshops, and training programs. If we want to foster young women's leadership, if we want to avoid indiscriminate violence, and if we want to build a supportive atmosphere for women, law enforcement needs to undertake efforts to maintain a non-violent environment throughout the year.
Women will have the opportunity to take leadership roles in both society and the nation if there is an absence of violent conflict in the state they live in. In this scenario, an essential component is the disposition of political parties, which should be constructive, innovative, and tolerant. People in Bangladesh who value peace are optimistic that the country's political parties may transform our nation into a developed and prosperous nation via peaceful and tolerant politics.
Saif Ahmed is Governance Specialist, IRI Bangladesh.
