At a workshop on developing women's leadership in politics, speakers said that in order to achieve greater gender equality in Bangladesh, it is important for more women to participate and win in the upcoming national elections. They need to be given more support for this. There is a good opportunity to build women's leadership at a larger level ahead of the national elections. For this, the nomination of women candidates should be increased. There should be 33 percent women in every level of political party committee.
Democracy International organized the workshop at a hotel in the capital's Gulshan on Monday. The workshop was held under the Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL) project funded by USAID. As part of the SPL project's 'Women's Victory, Everyone's Victory' campaign, the workshop discussed identifying obstacles to women's reserved seats and increasing nominations for general seats.
In the workshop, 23 women MPs and candidates for the upcoming general elections prepared a strategy paper to reform the current electoral system and increase women's nominations in national elections. In addition, a session was held on various methods of participation in elections and private members' bills. In this, the speakers made several recommendations. These are: Each political party's election manifesto should mention a specific number of women in nominations. The Election Commission should come forward with financial incentives for women candidates. 33 percent women should be ensured in each committee of political parties. Women should work to increase their political skills.
The workshop was attended by 23 women MPs from Awami League, Jatiyatabadi Dal, Jatiya Party and general election candidates. The panel members included Selima Rahman, a member of the Jatiyatabadi Dal standing committee, Marina Jahan, a member of the Awami League central executive committee, Sharifa Quader, an MP, an advisor to the Jatiyatabadi Chairman, and Carrie Rasmussen, acting mission director of USAID Bangladesh.
The workshop reported that the campaign has a growing multi-party network of more than 20,000 women across the country. Through this, 6,829 women have been helped to be included in 621 grassroots committees.
USAID's programs in Bangladesh include strengthening democratic institutions and practices, expanding food security and economic opportunities, improving and adapting health and education services, and adapting to climate change through environmental protection.
