Increase reserved seats for women in JS
Women's rights campaigners yesterday once again called for increasing the reserved seats in parliament for women to 150 from existing 50 and introducing direct election to these seats for their political empowerment.
Suggesting one woman lawmaker for every two parliamentary seats, they also demanded re-demarcation of constituencies so that the female MPs elected to the reserved seats could serve their own areas.
The activists were addressing a views exchange meeting on “Introducing Direct Election System in Reserved Seats, Increase the Number by One-Third and Nominate 33% Women of a Political Party to Contest in Election”, organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) in Cirdap auditorium of the capital.
The current parliament consists of 350 seats, including 50 reserved for women, which are apportioned to elected parties based on their representation in parliament.
BMP, a longtime advocate of increased representation of women in parliament, held a rally on February 10 last year making the same call.
“The way the whole parliamentary system is working, it seems women are marginalised,” BMP President Ayesha Khanam said yesterday.
“We cannot expect positive changes in the women's rights movement if a female MP of one constituency is assigned to a completely different constituency, of which she has no knowledge,” she said. As a result they cannot contribute much to society, she added.
Ayesha Khanam blamed a lack of political as a hindrance to women's empowerment.
Rakhi Dash Purkayastha, acting general secretary of BMP, said the number of female voters had increased significantly over the years but women's participation in policy-making and political empowerment remained insignificant.
The rights group called upon the government to fulfil their demand in the ongoing session of parliament and keep budgetary allocation for female lawmakers to help them carry out their duties.
Calling the BMP demands rational, former vice chancellor of Chittagong University Prof Abdul Mannan stressed the need for enhancing women's participation in election as voters.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, also expressed solidarity with the call, and urged BMP to unite women and work as a "voting block" to force political parties to fulfil their demands.
Jana Goswami, director (advocacy & lobby) of BMP, presented a paper at the programme.
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