Political parties fail to ensure women leadership

Political parties in Bangladesh failed to meet the condition of ensuring at least 33 percent women’s representation at all levels even after 11 years of registration.

The condition was applied by the Election Commission or EC in 2008 when the registration of political parties was made mandatory.

The parties signed up with a promise to make sure women occupy at least a third of all committee positions at central and local levels by 2020.

Most of the parties fell short when only two years are left to the deadline, according to reports submitted to the EC.

Of the 40 registered parties, only Jatiya Gana Front, a leftist political group, is seen to be successful in ensuring 33 percent women leadership.

Prominent parties such as the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party could ensure 15 percent to 20 percent women representation at all levels although they have women at the top.

Abdul Halim Khan, a deputy secretary at the EC Secretariat, presented a report on the implementation of registration rules to the EC.

“All parties promised to implement the condition by 2020 in their reports, although it is hard to say if they will be able to do that,” he said.

He also said the commission will decide on further steps once the deadline is reached.

“Our objective was to propel women’s empowerment and make sure the parties responded positively; we have to wait to see if they can do it by 2020,” said Muhammad Sahul Hossain, former election commissioner.

The law does not provide any direction to cancel registration if the target is not met in time, but the deadline can be extended by amending the RPO, he said.

At least 10 political parties informed the EC about the present status of women representation while 30 parties assured the commission of completing it in scheduled time.

Gana Front said women account for 33 percent of leadership roles on all committees.

At least 17 of its 51-member central committee are women while local and grassroots committees also have women members. “We are following the rules imposed by EC,” Gana Front Chairman Zakir Hossain told bdnews24.com.

He believes other parties can meet the condition if they are willing.

The Awami League has 15 women as members on its 81-member Central Executive Committee which brings women representation to 18 percent. Also, the party has 16 female lawmakers elected directly.

The BNP has 15 percent of women representation on its committees at all levels while the Jatiya Party has 20 percent.