Speaker for talks with no precondition

The two major political parties should sit for a dialogue, without any precondition, to resolve the ongoing political crisis over the electoral system, Speaker of the House Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said yesterday.
The government has formed a polls-time cabinet to oversee the upcoming general election, which the main opposition rejects saying it will not take part in the election unless a non-party caretaker government is formed.
“It will be effective and meaningful, if they [political parties] can reach a consensus through an open discussion. The nation expects a free and fair election with participation of all parties. I think the opportunity for a dialogue still exists,” the Speaker said.
She was speaking at a roundtable titled “Fostering gender equality in politics” organised by Democracy International, United Nations Development Programme and UN Women at Bay’s Galleria in the capital.
Asked whether a level-playing field will be ensured if the election is held without the dissolution of parliament, she said every step should be taken as per the constitution.
To empower women, political parties should facilitate their participation in politics on a larger scale. The parties should also nominate more women to contest the election for increasing their representation in parliament, Shirin said.
Equal opportunities should be given to women in the electoral contest, she said. “I hope that political parities will come forward to ensure one-third representation of women in their organisational structure.”
Addressing the programme as the special guest, Anneli Lindahl Kenny, Sweden ambassador to Bangladesh, said participation of women in politics would strengthen democracy.
Parliament member Rasheda Begum Hira said social stigma, objections from families and harassment by partymen were the main barriers to politics for women.
Bangladesh Krishak League joint women affairs secretary Shamima Shahriar urged the media to highlight the achievements of women in politics so that more women are encouraged to engage in politics.
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Neal Walker and representatives of different organisations and media also spoke.