'Politics is in the hands of men'
Speakers at a programme yesterday demanded increased participation of women in parliament, and to ensure one-third of reserved seats for women in the House through direct elections.
Women should be engaged in policymaking to improve gender balance in the parliament, they said.
The programme, titled “Election, not nomination, in women's reserved seats at the National Parliament”, was organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on its premises in the capital's Segunbagicha.
Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said women are not being considered a political force, as they are not participating in direct elections in reserved seats.
“Politics is in the hand of men where women have got little to say,” said Ayesha.
Cultural Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Ashim Kumar Ukil said there are only a handful of women in the secretariat. “We need to see why women are not coming forward in political sectors,” he said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim urged women to get involved in politics and contribute in their respective sectors.
He said women are being deprived for many years and it is the time they come to the frontline, otherwise there will always be discrimination in society.
Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hasan said, “We do not need a democratic society where we cannot protest.” Political parties should be free from communalism, and more women should step forward in politics, he opined.
Ajay Dasgupta, associate editor of Bangla daily Samakal, said, “We need to empower women in local government.”
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