‘Only 4.24% of candidates women’

• Only 109 women contesting out of 2,568 candidates

• Parties nominated 72 women; 37 independents

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• No party nominated more than 10 women candidates

• 30 of 51 parties did not nominate single woman

• BNP nominated 10 women out of 328

• Jamaat nominated no women out of 276

• NCP nominated 3 women out of 44

Political parties must be held accountable for failing to nominate at least five percent women candidates in the upcoming national election despite pledging to do so under the July National Charter, said the Women’s Political Rights Forum (FWPR) yesterday.

Of the 2,568 candidates contesting the election, only 109 are women -- just 4.24 percent of the total. Among them, 72 women were nominated by political parties, while 37 are running as independents, the rights organisation said at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

The forum noted that no political party nominated more than 10 women candidates, highlighting the largely symbolic nature of gender inclusion in electoral politics.

“Even parties born out of mass uprisings, where women played a strong role, have shown a frustrating example of including women,” said Sadaf Saaz of Naripokkho.

The forum urged political parties to treat women’s nomination as a constitutional obligation rather than a token gesture and called for structural reforms to integrate women into leadership roles and ensure a gender-responsive political system.

It said women’s political participation remains heavily dependent on reserved seats, limiting their legitimacy, leadership opportunities and influence in decision-making. 

Although the Constitution guarantees equal rights, women continue to be sidelined in direct parliamentary representation, it added.

Under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), political parties are required to reserve at least 33 percent of positions in central and party committees for women. However, most major parties have failed to meet this requirement. The Election Commission has extended the deadline for compliance by 2030, but non-compliance persists, with parties often citing a lack of qualified female leaders.

The FWPR described the situation as a self-perpetuating crisis, where the failure to empower women continues to reinforce the status quo.

The July National Charter 2025 mandates that political parties nominate at least five percent women candidates in parliamentary elections, with a long-term goal of increasing the figure to 33 percent. 

However, EC data shows that 30 of the 51 parties contesting the election did not nominate a single woman.

According to EC data, BNP submitted 328 nomination forms, of which only 10 were women -- just 3.02 percent. Jamaat-e-Islami submitted 276 nominations but did not nominate any women, despite claiming 40 percent female representation in its party committees.

In contrast, Jatiya Party (GM Kader) and BASAD (Marxist) each nominated nine women candidates. Smaller parties such as JASAD, Ganosamhati Andolon, and AB Party also nominated women candidates. Together, these parties nominated around 35–40 women, accounting for about 32 percent of all women candidates.

However, the National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from mass movements, nominated only three women out of its 44 candidates.

The forum said it would continue monitoring women’s political participation and advocate reforms to ensure women’s voices are represented in national politics.

The FWPR comprises Khubdho Nari Samaj, Gono Shakkhorota Abhijan, Durbar Network Foundation, Nagarik Coalition, Nari Udyog Kendra, Nari Grantha Prabartana, Nari Sangahati, Naripokkho, Narir Daake Rajniti, Feminist Alliance of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Kendra and Voice for Reform.