Elections for all, but women left ‘on the sidelines’ in Bangladesh

Out of 1,732 party-nominated candidates, only 63 are women, while an additional 19 women are contesting the election as independent contenders. In total, 82 women candidates are in the race among 1,983 contestants across the country’s 300 constituencies.

Of the 51 political parties participating in the election, only 20 parties, including BNP and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), have women candidates in the 13th parliamentary election.

The highest number of women candidates—10 each—have been fielded by the BNP and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist).

The highest number of women candidates -- 10 each from BNP and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) are in the electoral race, while six woman candidates each from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-(JSD-Rab) and Insaniat Bilplab Bangladesh, five from Jatiya Party, four each from Ganasamhati Andolan and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod, three from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), two each from National Citizen Party-NCP, Gono Forum and Bangladesher Biplabi Workers Party.

Besides, one woman candidate each from nine parties –Nagorik Oikya, CPB, AB Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladeshi Republic Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, National People's Party-NPP, Amjanatar Dal and Islamic Front Bangladesh is in the February-12 electoral race.

Despite fielding a large number of candidates, Islami Andolan Bangladesh-IAB (have 253 candidates) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (224 contenders) did not nominate a single woman for the election.

In terms of percentage, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) has the highest share of women candidates, with women accounting for 31 percent of its 29 nominees.

A gentlemen’s agreement was reached among political parties in the July National Charter 2025, calling for the nomination of at least 5 percent women of their respective aspirants in the next general election, and at least 10 percent women in the 14th national election. However, the agreement will not be incorporated into the Constitution.

A total of 27 political parties and alliances endorsed the agreement, while three parties issued notes of dissent. Despite this, most parties flagrantly ignored the commitment in the 13th parliamentary election.

Ten BNP women candidates are Farzana Sharmeen (Natore-1), Sabira Sultana (Jashore-2), Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto (Jhalokathi-2), Sansila Jebrin (Sherpur-1), Afroza Khanam (Manikganj-3), Sanjida Islam (Dhaka-14), Shama Obaid Islam (Faridpur-2), Nayab Yusuf Ahmed (Faridpur-3), Nadira Aktar (Madaripur-1) and Tahsina Rushdir (Sylhet-2)

Ten Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) candidates are Progoti Barman Toma (Rangpur-4), Rahela Khatun (Gaibandha-5), Toufika Dewan (Joypurhat-1), Shahinur Aktar Sumi  (Dhaka-5), Seema Datta (Dhaka-7), Taslima Aktar  (Gazipur-1), Sadia Nowshin Tasneem Chowdhury (Moulvibazar-2), Moon Tahar Begum (Noakhali-5), Asma Aktar (Chattogram-10) and Dipa Majumdar (Chattogram-11).

The nineteen independent candidates are in the race who are Asha Moni (Thakurgaon-3), Anowara Islam Rani (Rangpur-3), Rita Rahman (Rangpur-3), Takia Jahan Chowdhury (Rangpur-6), Salma Aktar (Gaibanda-1), Sabekun Nahar (Joypurhat-1), Arfana Begum (Noagaon-4), Khairun Nahar (Pabna-1), Farida Yasmin (Narail-2), Aynin Nahar (Tangail-3), Farzana Farid (Jamalpur-3), Akhtar Sultana (Mymensingh-6), Hasina Khan Chowdhury (Mymensingh-9), Antara Selim Huda (Dhaka-1), Tasnim Jara (Dhaka-9), Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), Samira Azim (Cumilla-9), Zinnat Aktar (Chattogram-2) and Ziruna Tripura (Khagrachhari).

The six women candidates nominated by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)are Elora Khatun (Sirajganj-6), Shahana Selim (Dhaka-7), Arifa Aktar Baby (Faridpur-3), Shirin Aktar (Cumilla-5), Rehana Begum (Noakhali-1) and Tania Rab (Lakshmipur-4).

The six other candidates nominated by Insaniat Bilplab Bangladesh are Bangladesh Salma Aktar (Dhaka-12), Fatema Aktar Munia (Dhaka-13), Sarkar Taslima Afroza (Gazipur-2), Rokeya Aktar (Munshiganj-1), Sabira Khatun (Chattogram-10) and Tahmina Aktar (Narsingdi-5).

Jatiya Party’s five candidates are Nurun Nahar Begum (Thakurgaon-2), Monika Alam (Jhenaidah-1), Shamim Ara Parveen (Yasmeen) (Khulna-5), Meherun Nesa Khan Hena (Narsingdi-5) and Mithila Roaza (Khagrachhari).

Ganasamhati Andolan’s four candidates are Tahmina Islam Tania (Natore-2), Fatema Aktar (Tangail-5), Taslima Akhtar (Dhaka-12) and Nahida Jahan (Brahmanbaria-5).

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod’s four other candidates Dilruba (Bogura-6), Shampa Basu (Magura-1), Monisha Chakravarty (Barishal-5) and Kamrunnahar Sathi (Cumilla-6).

Gono Odhikar Parishad’s (GOP) three candidates are Mollika Khatun (Sirajganj-1), Meghna Alam (Dhaka-8) and Shirin Aktar (Narsingdi-1), while NCP’s two contenders are NCP Dilshana Parul (Dhaka-19) and Nabila Tasnid (Dhaka-20), Gonoforum’s two other candidates are Khonia Khanam (Jhenaidah-4) and Nazma Aktar (Dhaka-9) and Bangladesher Biplabi Workers Party’s two candidates are Champa Rani Sarkar (Netrakona-4) and Jui Chakma (Rangamati).

Besides, Nagorik Oikya  candidate Shahnaz Haque (Pabna-4), CPB candidate Joly Talukder (Netrakona-4), AB Party candidate Nasreen Sultana (Dhaka-10), Bangladesh Muslim candidate League Laila Tul Rima (Dinajpur-3), Bangladeshi Republican Party candidate Rumpa Khatun (Kushtia-3), Bangladesh Labour Party candidate Nasima Nazneen Sarkar (Chandpur-2), National People's Party-NPP candidate Sabina Jabed (Dhaka-18), Amjanatar Dal  candidate Sharifa Aktar (Brahmanbaria-2) and Islamic Front Bangladesh candidate Ayesha Aktar (Brahmanbaria-3) are in the electoral race.

Some 105 women aspirants filed nomination papers, including 37 independent ones, within the December-29 deadline. However, more than 40 women aspirants lost their candidacies during scrutiny, though several later regained eligibility through appeals to the Election Commission.

Following the January 20 withdrawal deadline, the final number of candidates stood at 1,983, including 1,732 partisan candidates and 251 independents, with 82 women contesting nationwide.

The 1,732 partisan candidates include 288 from BNP, 253 from IAB, 224 from Jamaat, 192 from Jatiya Party, 90 from GOP, 65 from CPB, 42 from Insaniat Biplab, 39 from Basod, 34 from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 32 from NCP, 30 from AB Party, 29 from Marxist, 26 each from JSD and Bangladesh Islami Front, 23 from NPP, 21 from Khelafat Majlish and 20 from Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote.

The remaining participant parties fielded less than 20 contenders in the February-12 election.

The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next, reports UNB.