Women’s Political Participation in Bangladesh: Role of Women’s Organizations

Abstract

Reviewing the history of women’s movement, this article expects to find a large role of women’s organizations in the process of change that has helped to increase participation of women in local government political process of Bangladesh. While there is considerable support for the presence of the women’s movement, there is much ambivalence as to the specifics of such influence: its objects, means, and magnitude. The difficulty in assessing influence may stem from the reliance on informal channels, which makes tracing and tracking influence a great challenge, and calls for more grounded research to expose the intricate interactions between actors.

Keywords:

• women
• political participation
• women organization
• Bangladesh

Notes

¹ Four major WOs that were interviewed included Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), Narripokkho, Ain- O-Salish Kendra (ASK), and Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangtha (BNPS). Among 33 leaders of the major political parties, 12 were from the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), nine were from the Bangladesh Nationalist Parties (BNP), five from Jatiya Party (JP), and seven from the Bangladesh Jammat-E-Islami (BJI).

² During the latter part of BNP’s tenure (1991–96) in state power, the JIB curtailed its alliance with BNP. In turn, the latter supported AL which organized an antigovernment movement demanding a provision for the caretaker government to hold a free, fair, and credible election in 1996. Finally, the BNP government had to step down from state power after making a constitutional amendment which provided for the establishment of the caretaker government. In that election, the AL secured 146 seats, which eventually formed the government because they received unconditional support from JP who secured 32 seats, while the BNP secured only 116 seats.

³ The percentages of women ministers in the cabinets of successive regimes are 4% (1972–75), 3% (1979–81), 4.5% (1982–96), 7.7% (1991–96), 8.7% (1996–2001), 5% (2001–06), and 13.9% (2009–present) (Chowdhury, 1994).

⁴ Sheikh Hasina’s father, Sheikh Muzibur Rahman, was the founder and the first prime minister of Bangladesh. Begum Khalada Zia’s husband, General Ziaur Rahman, was the president of Bangladesh.

⁵ Issues drawing most acute concern are rape, dowry, violence, wife abuse, and women trafficking.

⁶ In the 17-point demand, the prominent ones were demands for equal rights, ratification of the CEDAW without any reservations, uniform civil code, increase of quota in the civil service, equal pay for female garment workers, implementation of ILO legal rights like maternity leave with pay and other facilities, employment opportunities for landless and urban destitute women, and minimum pay for domestic helpers (Choudhury, 2000).

⁷ As an example, nine out of the 12 AL leaders we interviewed shared this judgment.

⁸ In-depth interviews with leaders of five major WOs.

⁹ Interviews with WO leaders, 2007.

¹⁰ Authors’ interviews, 2007.

¹¹ The WOs include Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samiti, Ain O Salish Kendra, Samajtantrik Mahila Forum, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Sangshad, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and Women for Women.

¹² In 2004 several WOs went to the Court to protest against the decision of the BNP government under Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to reserve only 45 seats for women in the Parliament. Joining hands with the then opposition political parties (including AL led by Hasina), they demanded at least 64 reserved seats for women and the introduction of direct election to these seats. However, they lost the case finally (The Daily Star, 20. 07. 2005).

¹³ Authors’ interviews with WOs, 2007.

¹⁴ Authors’ interview, Dhaka, July 2007.

¹⁵ The respondent was also a former MP (1996–2001). Authors’ interview, 2007.

¹⁶ The Bangladesh Women Awami League is the women wing of Bangladesh Awami League. This organization remains active about women’s rights.

¹⁷ Authors’ interviews, Dhaka, 2007.

¹⁸ For instance, Bangladesh Mahila (Women) Awami League is a front women wing of the AL while Bangladesh Nationalist Women Party is the front women wing of the BNP.

¹⁹ Authors’ interview, Dhaka, 2007.

²⁰ Authors’ interviews with WO leaders, 2007.

²¹ JIB had only three Parliament members out of the total 330 (300 general seats and 30 seats reserved for women) seats in the Seventh Parliament (1996–2001).