In a country led by woman leaders, Bangladesh's Election Commission is the last unconquered gender frontier.
Published : 30 Oct 2016, 11:55 AM
None of its 23 election commissioners and 11 chief election commissioners has been a woman.
The five-member commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad steps down in February.
The ruling Awami League, the Opposition Jatiya Party and the BNP have all pitched for women representation in the new commission, though they insist competence should be the priority.
The new commission will conduct the 11th National Election by January 2019.
Rakibuddin's predecessor ATM Shamsul Huda had suggested a law that made it mandatory to have at least one woman commissioner.
Before Huda stepped down with his team in 2012, he even submitted a draft to the law ministry to this effect.
"After considering all relevant factors, we prepared that draft. Of the five commissioners now, I think one of them should be a woman," he told bdnews24.com
The 15th Amendment in 2011, intending to 'strengthen' the body, provided for not more than four election commissioners and the chief election commissioner. However, there was no provision to appoint at least one woman commissioner.
The present Election Commission was constituted through a search panel in 2012.
Then president, late Zillur Rahman, discussed with political parties to find out their preferences.
The Awami League and several other parties indicated their preferences, but the BNP did not.
The panel forwarded ten names to the President for consideration. The five members of the current commission were chosen from among those names.
On Feb 8 the same year, the Cabinet issued a circular on their appointments and they were sworn in by the chief justice the next day.
A woman had been nominated for a position on the current election commission, said former CEC Huda.
“I do not know why she was not appointed,” he said. “Hopefully we will have a female commissioner in future.”
Awami League wants women on EC
Awami League Advisory Council member Yusuf Hossain Humayun says a 'search committee' to appoint the ECs might be an option.
“As women take a more central role in our political party, it would be good if the election commission had a female member,” he told bdnews24.com insisting competence should be the priority.
Women have taken on greater responsibilities in government and even judicial positions in the nation’s highest court, said the ruling party leader.
However, there is no constitutional obligation to appoint a female commissioner, he said. “The goal is to have a strong election commission.”
BNP agrees, but has other concerns
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his party chief would soon come out with their views on the restructuring the Election Commission.
“What is needed is a non-partisan and impartial election commission,” he told bdnews24.com. “There should be at least one female commissioner.”
He, however, slammed the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led commission. “The people have seen the way elections are conducted under their supervision."
Jatiya Party for an ‘impartial’ EC
Ensuring a credible election matters more than who is on the commission, says Jatiya Party Co-Chairman GM Quader.
“There have been concerns over the EC’s capabilities and credibility. A new commission is due and the objective is whether it can perform its job free of government influence."
CPB wants ‘non-partisan’ EC
The most important thing is to make sure the EC is composed of non-partisan members, said Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim.
Since Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury became Speaker, the three highest positions of the National Parliament are filled by women.
The House is led by Sheikh Hasina, the Leader of the Opposition Rowshan Ershad. The Deputy Leader is Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury.
Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister, leads Bangladesh’s major opposition party the BNP.
In the seven years of the Hasina-led administration, women have found greater representation in government positions.
Several women have held positions as ministers in the Cabinet-- Matia Chowdhury, Dipu Moni, Sahara Khatun, Tarana Halim, Meher Afroz Chumki and Ismat Ara Sadique.
In 2011, Nazmun Ara Sultana was the first woman to be appointed as a Supreme Court Justice.