On 31 August 2025, the Forum for Women’s Political Rights held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) demanding direct elections to 100 reserved seats for women in parliament and mandatory nomination of at least 33% women candidates by every political party, with a gradual increase to 50%. The forum leaders argued that the current system of 50 reserved seats keeps women MPs accountable to party leadership rather than to the people, limiting their decision-making power and political agency.
The demands included state funding and a safe electoral environment for women candidates, restricting MPs’ duties to lawmaking, budget approval, and government accountability, and ensuring reserved seats for ethnic minority, Dalit, disabled, and marginalized women. Leaders noted that women make up more than half of Bangladesh’s population but only hold about 7% of seats in parliament.
Speakers emphasized that genuine political empowerment of women is both a right and essential for democratic sustainability. They pointed out that women are already directly elected in local government and said this system could be introduced in the national parliament without constituency redemarcation, starting with the 2026 general election.
The press conference also marked the formal launch of the forum, with prominent activists Samina Luthfa, Nazifa Jannat, Sadaf Saaz, Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Maheen Sultan, and Taslima Akhter present.
Source: The Business Standard
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