Tokenism and discrimination: Experts call for inclusive politics to empower youth and women

Despite calls for inclusive governance, women and youth remain underrepresented in national politics; experts urge the government to address structural barriers, harassment, and tokenistic participation that limit meaningful engagement and hinder the country from fully harnessing its most dynamic demographic.

Addressing the challenges, the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hosted a roundtable on "Inclusive Politics: Women and Youth's Pathways to Leadership" today (25 September) in Dhaka.

CGS President Zillur Rahman, presiding over the dialogue, noted that Bangladesh's youth remain sidelined even a year after the July Uprising, and women continue to face societal and institutional barriers. "The success of any initiative to promote inclusive politics depends on political will," he said.

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