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Women cruise to a historic high in Bangladesh elections

by Sanjay Jha | December 30, 2008 at 08:20 pm

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Bangladesh elections results have put Sheikh Hasina led Awami league in the power and also elected a large number of women in National Parliament. A record number of candidates were trying their luck in the general elections and their number are highest so far in the history of Bangladeshi politics.

Highest 18 women have won 22 parliamentary seats in Monday's battle of ballots, meaning the new parliament will have the highest number of at least 63 female lawmakers, including 45 to be elected to reserve seats, in the history of Bangladesh.

The fortunate female MP-elects have defeated their male counterparts in the landmark ballots for the ninth parliament in most cases by huge margins, giving the nation a hope for the long-desired empowerment of women.

This time 59 women candidates contested from 64 constituencies with Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina and her archrival BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in three seats each and Jatiya Party leader Rowshan Ershad in two.

Eevn though Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia have dominated the politics of Islamic nation of Bangladesh, not many women have played active role in Bangladesh Politics and their participation in previous elections were low.

In the October 2001 parliamentary polls, 41 female candidates contested in 50 constituencies with Hasina and Khaleda in five each. They won in 13 seats with Khaleda in five and Hasina in four. It means, apart from the two top leaders, only four female candidates were able to win in the polls.

In the June 12, 1996 parliamentary election, only five candidates won in 11 seats. Khaleda won in five seats while Hasina in three. Three other fortunate women elected in that election are AL's Matia Chowdhury, BNP's Khurshid Jahan Haque and JP's Rowshan Ershad. In that election 36 female candidates contested in 48 seats.

A total of 46 women candidates took part in the fifth parliamentary polls held in February 1991. Of them, only four came out victorious. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia won in five seats while AL President Sheikh Hasina, AL leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Matia Chowdhury won in one seats each.