Women's participation reduces
A total of 70 women candidates or 19 percent female candidates have reduced their participation in city corporation and municipal elections on August 4 this year, a study of an NGO revealed yesterday.
The total number of women candidates both in general and reserved seats in four city corporations and one municipal election was 297 in 2002-'03 while the number was 227 this year, it added.
Steps Towards Development, an NGO working to promote gender equality, human rights and good governance, presented the study at an experience sharing meeting on 'Women candidates in this year's local government election' at the Cirdap auditorium in the city.
Against this backdrop, the study pointed out lack of specific legal directives of the rights and responsibilities for the women councillors and lack of power for proper using of the government grant, allowance, relief and in new projects among the people.
Another trend of the elections showed that women candidates had increased in number in general seats which were 17 while their numbers had reduced in reserved seats which were 87.
Findings of the report mentioned that women falling prey to monetary, muscle and political power to lose in the general seats and male candidates working in unity against female candidates are the reasons behind such trend.
Twelve successful candidates in the four city corporations and one municipal elections, political leaders, civil society members and media personalities shared their experience in the programme.
Women candidates - both elected and failed for the reserved seats - called for proportionate distribution of rights and responsibilities of the councillors of both seats; otherwise number of women candidates will fall continuously for reserved seats.
Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said, “The act relating to the local government election has got weakness and women will have to be united to create pressure on the political parties to eliminate these weaknesses.”
Former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal said, “We will have to look at ourselves first and we have the responsibilities to make the politicians accountable to us for their any activities.”
“The female candidates will have to ask themselves if their alliances and they themselves are responsible enough to play their role,” she added.
Jatiya Party leader Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Workers' Party leader Bimal Biswas, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Jafar Sajjad, BNP leader Abdus Salam, Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni, Elected reserved seat member in Khulna City Corporation Sufia Rahman Shunu and journalist Arun Karmakar took part in the programme.
Comments