Direct election for women to parliament

The National Consensus Commission has proposed establishing an upper house of parliament comprising elected representatives from each district and city corporation. As part of this proposal, it also recommended abolishing the current system of reserved seats for women in the lower house.

Under the new model, the upper house would consist of 76 members-one representative from each of the 64 administrative districts and one from each of the 12 city corporations. Elections for both the lower and upper houses would be held simultaneously. The commission presented this proposal after political parties failed to reach a consensus on the structure of the upper house, even after six days of discussions-a deadlock that reflects how political parties often prioritize their own interests over genuine reform.

Many political parties, including the BNP, support increasing the number of reserved seats for women from 50 to 100, while denying them the opportunity for direct election. They argue that these seats should continue to be filled through the existing nomination-based system. This issue, too, has divided political parties and has been repeatedly discussed throughout the reform talks. Despite extensive deliberations on women's political representation and the creation of a bicameral legislature, the commission has yet to reach a consensus.

Looking back, the 1972 Constitution initially reserved 15 seats for women in Parliament. Over time, this number gradually increased to 50 through Article 65(3), with the aim of encouraging women's participation in politics and leadership. Under the current system, these seats are distributed among political parties in proportion to their share of the 300 general seats. Unfortunately, this provision has often been misused-reserved seats have frequently been traded for financial or political gain, rather than awarded based on merit, experience, or social engagement. In many cases, women MPs appointed through this mechanism have remained disengaged from the public and have shown reluctance to assume leadership roles, ultimately undermining the original spirit of Article 65(3).

If we genuinely seek to advance the role of women in our society and politics, they must be given the opportunity to prove their capabilities through direct elections. Women who are motivated by a sincere desire to serve the nation should be allowed to do so through a democratic mandate. Only then can their participation be truly meaningful and impactful for the future of our country.

Abu Taher

Kawran Bazar, Dhaka

abutaher011@gmail.com