Chattogram-based politicians observed on Saturday that the country鈥檚 political parties had yet to formally adopt a gender equality charter to ensure women鈥檚 meaningful participation in politics and economy, despite women having historically played a central role in Bangladesh鈥檚 social and political movements.
They observed this at an event organised by the non-government think-tank, the Centre for Governance Studies, in Chattogram, as part of its ongoing project 鈥楨mpowering Women and Youth in Politics鈥�, according to a CGS press release.
CGS president Zillur Rahman, who moderated the event, said that young people, especially women, were at the forefront in the July鈥揂ugust uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League regime.聽
Yet, no political party in Bangladesh has officially adopted a gender equality charter to ensure women鈥檚 meaningful participation in politics and economy, he said.聽
鈥業n Chattogram, there is not a single major female political leader at the highest level. This is why the stage today is filled only with men,鈥� he observed.
Chattogram City Corporation mayor and former Chattogram city BNP president Shahadat Hossain stressed the need for unity in protecting women鈥檚 rights.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami鈥檚 Chattogram city unit former amir Shahjahan Chowdhury said that women had not been adequately included in formal political structures, though they had historically played a central role in Bangladesh鈥檚 social and political movements.
Ganosamhati Andolan鈥檚 Chattogram coordinator Hasan Maruf Rumi wanted to know why the brave women who resisted state violence during the uprising were now facing online harassment and being silenced.
He said that true empowerment could not come from placing women in separate party wings and added that they must be involved in central decision-making processes.
Jatiya Party鈥檚 Chattogram city unit president Md Solaiman Alam Seth, National Citizen Party鈥檚 Chattogram regional coordinator Jubairul Hasan Arif, Communist Party of Bangladesh鈥檚 Chattogram district unit president Ashok Saha, and former Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs deputy minister Moni Swapan Dewan also spoke.
