The upcoming 13th Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, set for February 12, are notable for two key aspects. Firstly, the absence of the Awami League, the country’s oldest political party, from the polls due to a ban imposed by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Secondly, there is a concerning lack of women candidates participating in the elections, attributed to growing lawlessness and intolerance towards women under the Yunus-led administration, as reported by Eurasia Review.
Criticism has arisen regarding the exclusion of the Awami League, with concerns raised about the legitimacy of the upcoming polls. Despite this, civil society and political factions have accepted the decision to sideline the oldest political party and its supporters from Bangladesh’s political landscape under Yunus’s leadership.
While women in Bangladesh have historically exercised their right to vote and hold political office, the number of female candidates contesting the February 12 elections is notably low. Out of 2,568 nomination papers submitted, only 109 were filed by women, accounting for a mere 4.24% of the total nominations. Following revisions, a total of 1,981 candidates, including 76 women, are now in the running, representing just 3.84% of the total candidates.
Among the 51 political parties participating in the elections, only a handful have fielded women candidates. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) nominated women for 15 constituencies, but only 11 candidatures were validated. Other parties like the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh, Ganasamhati Andolan, Jatiya Party, and others have also nominated women candidates, albeit in small numbers.
The reluctance of women to actively engage in electoral politics is partly attributed to violence and harassment they face. Reports indicate a rise in gender-based violence in recent years, with groups advocating for restrictions on women’s freedom and participation in society. The situation has been exacerbated by protests from hardline Islamic factions against gender equality initiatives, leading to increased abuse and limitations on women’s voices and movements.
