The advancement of women in Bangladesh has been notable and continuous, and the presence of women has grown in every area of the state. Women's political empowerment is evident as they have achieved representation at all governmental institutions. Within the administration, the positions of Prime Minister, National Parliament speaker, and Education Minister are occupied by women.
However, given that women constitute around 50% of the overall population in Bangladesh, it is always imperative to guarantee their inclusion in all aspects of society. If a government neglects to provide sufficient representation of women in the decision-making process, the perspectives and opinions of half of the population go ignored.
There are 50 designated seats in the national parliament earmarked explicitly for women, and 33% of the seats in the local government body, known as the Union Parishad, are also reserved for women. Furthermore, seats are specifically allocated for women in both the Upazila Parishad and Zila Parishad. But does this data indicate that women have been empowered politically? Or perhaps, despite these numerous efforts to enhance women's participation in the country, they do not accurately reflect the real situation.
As the 12th national election, on January 7, approaches, the status of women's candidacy in the general seats of the national election has become a talking point. News media have reported that women accounted for a mere 4.71% of the candidates put forth by the 29 political parties participating in the election. Among the 2,713 applicants, there are 2,585 men and 128 women. Still, the number of candidates in this election is almost double the number in the 2018 election -- which had only 68 women candidates, accounting for a mere 3.64% of the total.
However, this outcome is far from satisfactory. In this election, 26 out of the 29 political parties nominated 83 women candidates. The remaining 45 women are running as independent candidates. The Awami League nominated 23 female candidates, including prominent figures like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, National Parliament Speaker Sharmin Chaudhury, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, and Matia Chowdhury who is an incumbent Member of Parliament. The Jatiya Party has nominated nine women, which is the second-highest number of female candidates behind the Awami League.
The 1972 Representation of the People Order (RPO) requires political parties to provide at least 33% of their committee posts, including those in the central committee, to women. Notwithstanding this stipulation, prominent political parties have yet to fulfill their duty. In 2021, following the failure to meet the objective, the Election Commission set 2030 as the revised date to attain the goal -- but it seems unlikely to be met even by then.
Now, the question arises as to why women are not receiving nominations in the national parliament at the intended quantity. Political parties are obligated to conduct their operations considering the broader environment of the nation. They prioritize their principal purpose of seeking power, which leads them to avoid taking risks by selecting many women candidates in legislative elections. Furthermore, it is accurate to state that the number of female candidates vying for nominations is likewise significantly lower in comparison to their male counterparts. This can be attributed to the predominant influence of males in political hegemony. The undeniable lasting presence of the patriarchy and male dominance in Bangladeshi society is impeding the progress of women's empowerment in the nation.
While a growing number of women are engaging in politics, even more need to step up and assert themselves in the country's political sphere. Agency is a vital concern in the pursuit of women's empowerment. The women's community suffers from a dearth of agency, with many individuals remaining uninformed about their rights and benefits. Therefore, political parties must implement agency-building initiatives to improve the situation. Various non-government organizations (NGOs) have been executing similar initiatives at the community level, significantly influencing women's political empowerment at the local level. Nevertheless, further measures are necessary for women to compete effectively with their male counterparts in the national parliament.
There are two essential aspects involved with political empowerment. One aspect is the act of participating, while the other aspect is the act of representing. Representation refers to the numerical presence of women in various decision-making entities. Participation entails that women will not only be present, but also exert influence on the decision-making process. Although women in Bangladesh are well-represented in the political process, they have not yet significantly influenced the overall decision-making process, even though many women hold senior positions in the government.
Despite the limited participation of women in the national election, we anticipate a significant number of them to get elected. Upon assuming office, they must foster a political climate incentivizing female political participation. These women should serve as role models for other women, inspiring and encouraging them to participate in politics. To ensure inclusivity, their opinions must be taken into account.
The Prime Minister has demonstrated competence in governing the nation's administration and leading the country towards progress. Consequently, we have high expectations for her government. While several efforts have been made by the government to improve the political empowerment of women, further actions are still needed. We anticipate that the future government will implement affirmative strategies to foster an inclusive political landscape, encouraging greater female participation in the political process.
Dr Pranab Kumar Panday is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Rajshahi.
