Campaign starts to increase number of female voters

Nine civil society and rights organisations yesterday launched a campaign, "Women Count", aiming at creating awareness among people to help increase the number of female voters.

Under the campaign, the organisations will to encourage eligible females to become voters through loud speakers, leaflets, mosque imams and other communication activities at the village level.

"Our prime target is to ensure registration of all females, who are eligible to be voters, in the electoral roll," Abdul Alim, director of Election Working Group, told a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.

Female voters in the latest electoral roll were found less than males in some districts, including Noakhali, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Laxmipur and Sylhet, he claimed.

The organisations are --Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh Alliance for Women Leadership, Brotee, Bikoshito Nari Network, Election Working Group, Institute of Informatics and Development, JAAGO Foundation, Kabidang and Khagrapur Mahila Kalyan Samity.

Details about the campaign will be available at www.womencountbd.org.

The EC on July 25 started electoral roll updating programme across the country. Of the 9.61 crore voters, over 4.84 crore are male while around 4.77 crore female.