Narayanganj, Bangladesh — This Muslim-majority nation may have a female prime minister, but at the local level it remains difficult for women to gain and hold political power.
The 10th parliamentary polls see 17 women candidates elected, according to unofficial results of the election. The number is just one less than the historic high of the 2008 election, when 18 women were elected.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she has been granted permission by the president to lead the polls-time government. President Hamid has granted her the permission, she said on Wednesday evening during the 19th session of 9th Parliament.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday stressed equal participation of women alongside men in political decision making as this only could help achieve the real development and progress of a nation.
To eliminate gender discrimination, the political parties should ensure 33% of the positions allotted to women in their party hierarchical structure by 2015, and include this in their election manifesto ahead of the 2014 general elections.
Bangladesh has started a process to set up a ‘parliamentary caucus’ to better coordinate parliament’s actions on reproductive, maternal and child health, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has said.