CGS-FES backs women’s political dialogue
A workshop titled “Nationalism, the State and the Civil Society: Understanding State-Society Relations” was jointly organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) at a Dhaka hotel, aiming to foster ideological debate, conceptual understanding and participatory learning among young women politicians.
The initiative seeks to strengthen democratic coexistence and deepen engagement with governance, the state, and state-society relations through interactive discussions and capacity-building exercises, reports media.
The event opened with remarks from CGS President Zillur Rahman, CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi and FES Resident Representative Dr. Felix Gredes.
The sessions were jointly conducted by Dr. Julian Benedict Kuttig, Postdoctoral Fellow at Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics, Leipzig University, and Professor Lailufar Yasmin of the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka.
Zillur Rahman highlighted the gap between rhetoric and reality regarding women’s empowerment, noting that visible progress remains limited across sectors.
He questioned participants about their long-term prospects in politics, with fewer than half expressing confidence.
Participants shared concerns over growing challenges, including restrictions from family and society, as well as online harassment, which they said hinder their participation and freedom of expression.
Rahman also pointed out that although women constitute more than half of the population, they continue to face systemic discrimination despite playing leading roles in various movements throughout Bangladesh’s history, including the recent July-August 2024 uprising.
He noted that women have often been sidelined in mainstream politics, citing limited nomination opportunities from major political parties.
He also raised questions about the evolving and complex understanding of sovereignty in the contemporary world.
Parvez Karim Abbasi, in his address, traced the historical evolution of nationalism, describing it as a relatively modern concept originating in 18th-century Europe.
He discussed how elements such as language, geography, ethnicity and culture have shaped national identity, referencing Benedict Anderson’s idea of nationalism as an “imagined construct.”
He further illustrated how different forms of nationalism have emerged across regions.
FES officials highlighted global work on climate, labour and international affairs, stressed English proficiency for young politicians, and led discussions on nation vs nationalism. The workshop ended with interactive sessions and participant presentations.
