Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organized a discussion meeting on 17 December 2025 at 3:30 PM at the Anwara Begum–Munira Khan Auditorium of its central office in Sufia Kamal Bhaban, Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Chaired by President Dr. Fauzia Moslem, the meeting began with welcome remarks from General Secretary Maleka Banu. The concept paper was presented on behalf of the Central Committee by Dr. Bonnishikha Das Purkayastha, a member of the Central Committee and the Movement Sub-Committee.
While presenting the concept paper, Dr. Bonnishikha Das Purkayastha stated that although women’s meaningful and effective participation in national elections is essential to ensure the strength and effectiveness of democracy, women’s representation at decision-making and policy-making levels remains limited. Political empowerment and reflection of women’s perspectives in policy can only be achieved when women are established not merely as voters, but also as candidates and decision-makers. Despite constitutional commitments to women’s equal rights and special provisions, the nomination-based system of reserved seats for women in the national parliament has failed to ensure effective representation.
Due to various social and political barriers, women’s participation in electoral politics continues to remain marginal. To build a democratic and equality-based state system, it is now a necessity to ensure that at least one-third of the reserved women’s seats in the national parliament are filled through direct elections by popular vote.
In this context, the following demands were placed:
• The number of parliamentary seats must be increased in proportion to the country’s population.
• At least one-third representation of women in parliament must be ensured and guaranteed through direct elections.
• While maintaining the existing 300 general constituencies built through long-term political efforts, it was proposed that two adjacent constituencies be combined to form one reserved women’s seat, so that existing electoral boundaries are not disrupted.
• Although the constituency for a woman candidate would be comparatively larger, in the interest of women’s political empowerment this system should be maintained for a maximum of two to three terms.
Participants in the open discussion included Nurjahan of Bonnishikha; Minhaj of JAGO Foundation; Marwa Jannat Maisha from Nari Shongkoch Foundation; Raziya Sultana of JAGO Foundation; Fahim Islam; Purna Chakma of Bonnishikha; and Tasnuva Tushin of Green Voice.
They stated that due to the patriarchal social structure, patriarchal thinking is reflected in politics. Politics begins within the family and society. Instead of considering population numbers alone, diverse forms of marginalized women must be identified and addressed. One-third representation of women in parliament must be ensured. Direct engagement with marginalized communities is essential to understand their opinions. Beyond allocating seats to women, opportunities to work must also be created for them. A change in mindset and perspective is required, and for this, the goodwill of political parties is paramount. Political parties should ensure financial support and security for capable women candidates from party funds. Harassment and cyberbullying against women candidates must be stopped, and crime cells should be formed during election periods. Internal democracy within political parties must be ensured, along with accountability. Politics exists everywhere—women must be given opportunities to be established in senior positions, and more work is needed to ensure women’s effective participation in policy formulation.
General Secretary Maleka Banu said that this initiative is part of their ongoing work towards women’s political empowerment. She highlighted the legacy of the women’s movement in the subcontinent, carried forward by figures such as Ila Mitra, revolutionary Pritilata Waddedar, Kalpana Dutta, and Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, whose legacy Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has upheld for the past 55 years. Speaking about women in politics inevitably brings up Pritilata Waddedar, who sacrificed her life for the protection of the country. However, her party did not easily grant her permission for this sacrifice—she had to claim it herself. Women’s empowerment is crucial for establishing women’s human rights.
One of the key goals of a modern state system is the protection of human rights and ensuring accountability, where politics and political parties play a central role. Politics governs both private and public life, and people’s participation in it is essential. Half of that population is women, including marginalized women. Women’s political empowerment is a fundamental component of overall women’s empowerment. Despite long-standing demands, women’s limited participation in politics has gained some acceptance, but women often become invisible after major political victories. This is because political parties have failed to take necessary initiatives for women’s political empowerment.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad believes that to establish a democratic, equitable, and discrimination-free state and society, women must be included in the electoral process, and the state must ensure this inclusion. She emphasized that creating opportunities for women is not a favor—it is women’s right. Instead of nomination-based reserved seats, priority must be given to direct elections, and a women-friendly political environment must be built. She also highlighted the need to amend the RPO to reduce election expenses to ensure the participation of marginalized and Dalit women in politics.
President Dr. Fauzia Moslem stated that women’s political empowerment depends on a country’s social structure. To change social dynamics and structures, people must understand politics, and the political framework itself must be women-friendly. Candidate selection often prioritizes preserving family power, and the government must resolve controversial issues that arise in politics. To establish women’s political empowerment, it is necessary to examine how political parties are implementing their agendas regarding women. To change negative attitudes towards women within political parties, the broader society and women’s groups must unite. Political parties must be built as people’s parties by eliminating vengeance, religious extremism, and abuse of power, and by working on women’s agendas as distinct and prioritized agendas.
Greater engagement with Rokeya’s ideas is needed to further organize the women’s movement. Before achieving gender equality, gender justice must be ensured. Women must be directly elected to reserved seats and actively work for women’s rights. However, this system should be maintained for a specific period. Ultimately, she expressed hope that through democratic processes, women’s fair participation and their rights would become visible.
The discussion meeting was attended by leaders, members of the editorial board, and officials of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; students from the University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, and other universities and colleges; and representatives from JAGO Foundation, Green Voice, Bonnishikha, Bonnishikha –Unlearn Gender, and Nari:Shongkoch Foundation. The event was moderated by Jona Goswami, Director of Advocacy and Networking of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
