Women Need Effective Participation, Not Just Presence: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has stated that ensuring women’s effective participation in elections is far more critical than merely increasing their numerical voter turnout.
He noted that standing in line to vote is not enough; women must have a real presence and influence in the decision-making process. Pointing out that female voters outnumber males in several constituencies; such as Thakurgaon-1, he emphasized the urgent need to establish a level playing field to provide women equal opportunities in politics and elections.
The CEC made these remarks on Monday (October 5) as the chief guest at a workshop on gender equality, organized by the UN Electoral Project at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI).
Highlighting that reforms will lack permanence without strong democratic and electoral institutions, he urged stakeholders to formulate strategies for women’s empowerment and representation that align with local culture, values, and social beliefs.
Addressing the upcoming local government elections, the CEC acknowledged that while female voter turnout is expected to be high, the number of female candidates remains significantly low. Describing this as a structural reality in the political landscape that cannot be changed overnight, he called for widespread awareness campaigns to foster female leadership at the grassroots level, along with data-driven policy formulation rather than speculative measures.
The workshop was attended by Election Commission officials and UN representatives, who collectively stressed the importance of maintaining a fair and gender-sensitive electoral environment.
