Staff Reporter
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin yesterday said women’s participation is an
imperative component of democracy and that their effective participation must be increased and ensured
for a sustainable democratic system.
“We cannot consolidate democracy by leaving half of the populace outside the process. Women’s
participation must increase for an effective and sustainable democracy,” he said.
The CEC made the remarks at a workshop titled “Draft Gender Equality Strategy”, organized by the UN
Electoral Project at the Election Training Institute yesterday.
“If we want to make democracy credible and sustainable, ensuring the participation of 50 percent of the
country’s total population is essential for us,” he added.
The CEC said there would likely be a large turnout of women voters in the upcoming local government
elections, but the number of women candidates might remain low due to prevailing cultural norms and
beliefs.
A M M Nasir Uddin stressed the need to change people’s mindsets to strengthen institutions and raise
broad-based public awareness.
Women should have appropriate opportunities and meaningful participation in elections, the CEC said,
adding that the next local government elections would be highly competitive as candidates, being local
residents themselves, would make every effort to bring voters to polling centers.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud said strong laws are in place to protect women, but
legal measures alone are not enough to safeguard their rights. “A social revolution is also necessary,” he
said.
Election Commissioner Begum Tahmida Ahmed said the issue needed to be addressed at its roots. “To
increase the number of women voters, we need to reach rural and coastal areas,” she said.
Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said voter registration for women should be made
easier to ensure gender equality.
He stressed the need to prevent harassment of women voters and candidates and to create equal
opportunities for women candidates.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanauallah said women have many
opportunities to participate in the country’s democratic process.
“If women are more involved in party and political decision-making processes, the number of women
candidates would increase,” he said.
Sanauallah also stressed the need to take initiatives to prevent the spread of false information and
misinformation against women on social media.
