Women politicians demand their constitutional right

Local-level women leaders and party workers from Awami League and BNP yesterday asked their respective party high-ups to ensure one-third representation of women in committees, as granted in the constitution.

The demand was raised at a conference, titled "Women in politics: Each for equal" organised by Democracy International, at a city hotel.

"Even the central executive committee [of AL] does not have 33 percent women in them yet, so when will the ward, union and district committees meet this requirement?" questioned Arpita Khanam Shumi, women affairs secretary of Netrakona district AL committee.

Nineteen members of AL's 74-strong central committee are women, making up around 26 percent of the committee.

The Representation of the People Order, 1972 stipulates that political parties have 33 percent women in all committees by 2020, terming it a prerequisite for any political party's registration with the Election Commission.

A number of participants at the conference shared the hurdles of being promoted to posts in various committees.

"I was active in student politics since my university days. Following that, I have worked on the field, at the grassroots, like many of our senior party leaders. But then I observe that many women are given reserved seats for women just based on their lineage, although they have never been on the field like us," said Amena Kohinoor Alam, a member of Awami League's subcommittee on publications and publicity.

Another participant said that increasing the number of reserved seats is not enough, if they all go to wives or family members of male party members, rather deserving candidates.

"The party should collect information and educate themselves about female workers at the grassroots," said Jedda Parveen Khan Rimi, joint general secretary of Bangladesh Jubo Mohila League.

Women face more challenges at the grassroots level than men do, they said.

Khondokar Atiqa, a reserved seat ward councillor from Mohammadpur, said while male councillors are in charge of one ward each, females councillors have to take care of three.

"I won the election with 2,17,000 votes. Does my male counterpart have to cater to so many people? In addition, I get a lower budget than my male counterparts, even though I am serving more people," said Atiqa, a BNP-backed councillor for wards 29, 30 and 32.

The women presented a set of recommendations at the conference, including not approving committees at grassroots levels unless they meet the gender diversity requirements, and creating a roadmap to ensure 33 percent representation in committees by the end of 2020.

Golam Kibria Rubel, assistant secretary of BNP's south committee, attempted to mansplain the lack of political participation of women, saying, "Women do not want to stay in politics unless they are given posts like president of secretary. They have to make their own space."

Mohammad Salim Mahmud, information and research Secretary of AL's central executive committee, sidestepped the demands, and narrated a well-researched list of steps taken by the party to eradicate violence against women, child marriage, sex trafficking and the passing of laws related to women and local government.

"This is a very big party and not everybody can be given space yet. They will be given space in the future," he said. 

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury expressed his lack of support for the "positive discrimination" that reserved seats aim to provide.

"I do not support having reserved seats in the parliament. Women should be elected. I am also not a believer of percentages. Let there be 60 percent women in if they have the capacity," he said. He also added that 33 percent should not be a ceiling in any way, and should be a minimum that women should aim for.

"We have not been able to meet the expectation, but will hopefully fulfill it in the next council," he said.

BNP's advisory body of 73 members includes eight women, a paltry 11 percent.

Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, co-chair of the central committee of Jatiya Party said the government has taken steps to hang those who throw acid.

"We try to prioritise women when giving nominations," commented parliamentarian Faruk Khan, a member of AL's presidium committee.

"It is only 33 percent, not 50 percent. We should be able to achieve this. Evidence shows that women's political participation can be improved by focusing on their apprenticeship and the local needs," said Judith Herbertson, head of DFID Bangladesh.

"Party leaders, it is about time to get to know the women leaders," said Lesley Richards, deputy chief of party at The International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

Randall Olson, DRG Director at USAID, also spoke at the conference.