33pc women representation target still missed
A new study has found that Bangladesh’s legal requirement to ensure 33% women’s representation in political party committees by 2030 has not been effectively implemented in practice, despite formal commitments by political parties.
The findings were presented at a divisional dialogue titled “Political Parties’ Position on the Representation of the People Order (RPO)” held at Hotel Lake Castle in Dhaka on Monday. The event was jointly organized by Wave Foundation and ActionAid Bangladesh under UN-supported electoral assistance initiatives.
Researcher and consultant Sanaiya Fahim Ansari conducted the study under the Gender Responsive and Inclusive Participation (GRIP) project, while consultant Mansura Akhtar presented the summary findings.
Based on responses from 191 stakeholders across 11 districts in six divisions, the study found that 87.3% of respondents were aware of the 33% quota provision. However, 72% said political parties were not implementing it effectively, and only 1.4% believed the Election Commission has sufficient capacity to enforce it.
Respondents also raised concerns about the limited effectiveness of the Election Commission in enforcing the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
The study identified patriarchal party culture as the main barrier, cited by 60.6% of respondents. Other challenges included lack of political will, family and social pressure, weak internal party democracy, and limited monitoring by the Election Commission.
For young women, insecurity and fear of online harassment were highlighted as major obstacles, along with male-dominated party structures, social stigma, lack of opportunities, and financial constraints.
To address these gaps, the study recommended regular Election Commission audits on party compliance, mandatory annual reporting on women’s representation, and stronger inclusion of women in decision-making and nomination committees.
It also proposed state incentives for parties that nominate more women in direct elections, reduced nomination fees for female candidates, and expanded training and mentorship programmes to build leadership capacity.
Speakers at the event included Tapati Saha, who called for continued efforts toward inclusive governance, and Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud, who said the Election Commission’s role extends beyond conducting elections to ensuring representation.
Other participants, including representatives from political parties, the Election Commission, UN agencies, civil society, and youth groups, also took part in the discussion.
