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Published : 05 Feb 2026, 11:33 PM
Female candidates in the national election say voters are confused about whether they should vote for women separately from male candidates, and some have even questioned why women should contest at all.
Several female candidates in Chattogram also reported harassment, including Facebook accounts being hacked, campaign obstruction, and banners being torn.
Despite this, they claim to have received positive responses, particularly from women voters, many of whom have pledged support.
There are four female candidates across Chattogram’s 16 constituencies this election.
Two female candidates are contesting in Chattogram-10, which comprises Double Mooring, Pahartali, Halishahar and Khulshi: Asma Akhter of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD, Marxist) and Sabina Khatun of Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh.
In Chattogram-11, which includes Bandar and Patenga, the sole female candidate is Deepa Majumdar of BaSaD, Marxist.
Another female contender, lawyer Jinnat Akhter, is running as an independent candidate for Chattogram-2.
DIFFERENT COMMENTS FROM VOTERS
BaSaD candidate Asma campaigned in the Panjabi Lane, Shaheed Lane, and Master Lane of Pahartali on Tuesday, and she talked about establishing the rights of the working people with leaflets.
She said she is encouraged by the sincerity of voters but still faces gender bias.
“Some men tell me to only approach women because I’m a female candidate,” she said.
“There are nine candidates in my constituency, but only one or two parties are visibly campaigning. Their heavyweight candidates get more state, administrative, and media support.”
Equal opportunities are not being ensured, she claimed.
Insaniyat Biplob candidate Sabina campaigned in Wireless on Tuesday and Chowdhurypara on Wednesday, speaking about her party’s goal of “establishing a state of humanity”.
Sabina said she is facing negative comments on social media, including questions about why women should be candidates.
“No one has said anything negative to me directly during the campaign, but online there is a lot of criticism,” she said.
BaSaD candidate Deepa said she had to explain several times when voters asked whether they had to vote separately for a female MP alongside a male candidate.
She said many women voters do not realise she is contesting in a general seat and instead assume she is running for a reserved women’s seat.
Deepa said this confusion comes from past local elections, where voters cast separate ballots for reserved women councillors.
She said, “Women contesting parliamentary seats is still rare, so people are not used to it.”
While most responses are positive, Deepa said a small number of people refuse to take leaflets from her because she is a woman.
She also said the Election Commission (EC) and administration have failed to ensure a level playing field.
Independent candidate Jinnat said she is facing serious obstacles both on the ground and online.
She said her campaign banners are repeatedly removed, she lacks resources as an independent candidate, and her Facebook account has been hacked.
