# Women Leaders Propose 300 Dedicated Seats for Women in the National Parliament

> Women leaders urged the Election Commission to ensure greater female participation in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election by increasing seats from 300 to 600, with 300 reserved for women’s direct contest. They emph…

Published: 2026-09-15 · Desk: Latest · Source: Daily Ittefaq

Women leaders have called for greater female participation in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. They proposed increasing the total number of parliamentary seats from 300 to 600, with 300 of those reserved exclusively for women to contest directly. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring women’s safety during elections.

The suggestions came during a dialogue between women leaders and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin on Tuesday (October 7) at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, where four other commissioners were also present.

Kushi Kabir, coordinator of “Nijera Kori,” said, “You aim to ensure a free, fair, and participatory election. Our main concern is women’s representation, but we are not receiving enough encouragement from political parties. We want direct elections for women in addition to reserved seats, so that women can be elected through votes and play an active role in parliament. The safety of female voters must also be guaranteed.”

Fawzia Moslem, president of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said, “Only expressing hope for a gender-friendly election is not enough. To make elections gender-sensitive, all stakeholders must have a gender-friendly mindset. Those involved in the electoral process should receive training. Candidate selection must also consider whether a candidate is misogynistic, communal, or against the spirit of the Liberation War.”

Shireen Parvin Haque, head of the Women’s Reform Commission, noted that despite population growth, the number of parliamentary seats has not increased. “We have proposed increasing the number of seats from 300 to 600, where one seat in each constituency would be contested only by women, while the other would remain open to both men and women,” she said, expressing support for the proportional representation (PR) system.

Maleka Banu, general secretary of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said, “We want elections free from violence against women. Female candidates often face harassment and hate campaigns. Female voters also encounter various forms of intimidation. We expect the Election Commission to take strong measures to prevent these issues.”

Ashrafun Nahar Misti, executive director of the Women with Disabilities Development Foundation, stressed the need to ensure the safety of people with disabilities while exercising their voting rights.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah said, “If political parties fail to ensure 33 percent female representation by 2030, no further extension will be granted.” He added that linking female representation to party re-registration, as proposed by the Election Reform Commission, would make parties more accountable.

On expatriate voting rights and observer organizations, he noted that although the number of expatriate voters is small, the process of including them will begin soon — an important step toward engaging citizens living abroad in the democratic process.

He further mentioned that while some observer organizations are qualified, many failed to perform satisfactorily in previous elections, so they have not been retained this time.

Regarding misinformation and disinformation, Commissioner Sanaullah said, “About half of the sources of rumors cannot be traced, and many are based abroad, beyond our legal jurisdiction. The Election Commission will not restrict information flow but will counter disinformation with accurate information.”

In his concluding remarks, CEC Nasir Uddin said, “We will ensure that persons with disabilities can comfortably reach polling centers, preferably located on the ground floor. The Election Commission will make these arrangements.”

He added, “We seek your cooperation in conducting a free and fair election. Our intention is sincere — the Election Commission is truly committed to delivering a credible election. Please convey this message and encourage female voters to come to the polling centers.”

Original reporting: https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/755607/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A7%A9%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A6-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC?fbclid=IwY2xjawNS11FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKaFByRGVjNFFybXp4STI5AR6oSmJ4CQHqaKl6lpeGplxlcSCjysCAGpdhUUWeh_3XrVK3kxmhSAZNmUBD2g_aem_q-JsopVbRrBSsJM8kJVnLQ
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