City Desk :
The women’s participation in local government elections especially in union parishad (UP) has remarkably increased. Even, they were elected chairmen in many UPs defeating their rival male candidates.
Election Commission (EC) officials said woman candidates clinched chairman posts in 45 UPs among the total 4,058 in the last UP elections starting from June 2021 to February 2022 as their winning rate was now above one percent.
Earlier, the woman candidates won 26 chairman posts among 4,087 UPs in 2016’s polls which was 0.64 percent of winning rate, they said.
They also said they are seeing the increase of women representatives in local government polls positively.
The number of women’s participation in local government polls was very low even 10 years ago, they said, adding that but the last elections showed different scenario as many women candidates even contested as independent.
Among the 45 winners (women chairmen), many were independent candidates, the EC officials said, reports BSS.
They went on saying the Representation of the People Order stipulates that political parties will have to ensure women’s participation in 33 percent posts of all committees and most of the parties are implementing the provision that increases the number of women chairmen.
In the last UPs polls, the elected women chairmen are – Morsheda Akther (Awami League) from Tetelgathi of Morelganj in Bagerhat, Bishakha Shaha (independent) of Joynagar of Kolaroa, Mst. Mafhia Akthar (independent) in Baro Darga of Pirganj in Rangpur, Mst. Alfatun Nessa (Awami League) in Boalia of Naogaon Sadar, Hasna Hena (Awami League) in Moghi of Magura Sadar, Tanzin Nahar Sonia (Awami League) in Badarpur of Patuakhali Sadar, Nazmun Nahar (Awami League) in Bhatshala in Sherpur Sadar, Tahamina (Awami League) in Dewli of Delduar of Tangail, Mowshumi Haque Sultana (independent) in Laxmipur in Kalkini upazila in Madaripur, Putul Rani Das (Awami League) in Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria, Khodseta Begum Rina (Awami League) in Dakkhin Mithachari of Ramu in Cox’s Bazar, Monowara Begum (independent), among others.
