elections to local government bodies

Women’s participation, wins in general seats still abysmal

In N’ganj, 3 women are contesting the elections in general seats as against 160 male candidates

One of the many areas in which the traditional gender rules still hold sway is politics. Women may have found legal and administrative backing in the shape of reserved seats in elections. But beyond that, their participation in politics remains quite abysmal. The local body elections are no different.
In the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls on December 22, only three women are contesting the polls for the posts of the mayor and councillors in general wards. Only one woman mayoral candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, is contesting against six male contestants. Only two women are fighting the general ward council polls against 154 male candidates. In general Ward 2, Selina Islam is contesting against eight male counterparts. So is Jahanara Hakim in Ward 7. However, 38 women are contesting for the nine reserved seats for women.
The number of women contestants in the general wards has always been very low in all the local body elections. Though the Election Commission (EC) says that the numbers of male and female voters are almost equal, women are represented poorly in local government institutions.
According to the EC, there are around 10 crore voters now. Of them, 50.37 per cent are male and 49.63 per cent are female. The low participation of women also means a lower chance to win.
Only four women won mayoral posts in the 2015 municipal elections while five clinched the chairpersons’ posts in the 2014 upazila parishad elections. Of the 482 chairpersons’ posts in as many upazilas, only five were bagged by women in the 2014 elections.
In 2016, some 4,000 union parishads of the total 4,550 went to polls in six phases from March 22 to June 4. According to the statistics of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), only 29 women were elected chairpersons.
Among the country’s 11 city corporations, there was only one female mayor—Selina Hayat Ivy. She is contesting the NCC polls once again.
In the last Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls, only 22 women councillor contestants contested the elections from general seats. None of them tasted success. The results showed that these women bagged far fewer votes compared to their male counterparts.
Of the 36 DNCC wards, 11 women councillor candidates contested as many general seats. They faced 270 male candidates in all. Eight contested in the 57 DSCC wards against 382 male candidates. At the 41 wards of CCC, only three women councillor candidates fought against 210 male contestants.
Women leaders said political parties should promote women by incorporating them in their various committees. They should also give nominations to more women to contest the national and local body elections to ensuring women’s political empowerment at all levels.
They feel the number of women contesting the general seats for councillors’ posts is still not enough to bring about women’s empowerment. It is not enough to raise their voice to realise the just rights of women in the local government body.
Taleya Rehman, executive director of Democracywatch, said, “It is really regrettable that women are lagging behind year after year in the elections. For how long will women contest only from the reserved seats?” About the reasons for women’s failure, Rehman observed that women might face intimidation from different quarters during elections. Or, they may not be able to campaign properly as they do not have much money.
She said this situation would change only when all political parties and other quarters come forward to support more women.

 

elections to local government bodies

Womens participation, wins in general seats still abysmal

In Nganj, 3 women are contesting the elections in general seats as against 160 male candidates

One of the many areas in which the traditional gender rules still hold sway is politics. Women may have found legal and administrative backing in the shape of reserved seats in elections. But beyond that, their participation in politics remains quite abysmal. The local body elections are no different. In the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls on December 22, only three women are contesting the polls for the posts of the mayor and councillors in general wards. Only one woman mayoral candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, is contesting against six male contestants. Only two women are fighting the general ward council polls against 154 male candidates. In general Ward 2, Selina Islam is contesting against eight male counterparts. So is Jahanara Hakim in Ward 7. However, 38 women are contesting for the nine reserved seats for women. The number of women contestants in the general wards has always been very low in all the local body elections. Though the Election Commission (EC) says that the numbers of male and female voters are almost equal, women are represented poorly in local government institutions. According to the EC, there are around 10 crore voters now. Of them, 50.37 per cent are male and 49.63 per cent are female. The low participation of women also means a lower chance to win. Only four women won mayoral posts in the 2015 municipal elections while five clinched the chairpersons posts in the 2014 upazila parishad elections. Of the 482 chairpersons posts in as many upazilas, only five were bagged by women in the 2014 elections. In 2016, some 4,000 union parishads of the total 4,550 went to polls in six phases from March 22 to June 4. According to the statistics of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), only 29 women were elected chairpersons. Among the countrys 11 city corporations, there was only one female mayorSelina Hayat Ivy. She is contesting the NCC polls once again. In the last Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls, only 22 women councillor contestants contested the elections from general seats. None of them tasted success. The results showed that these women bagged far fewer votes compared to their male counterparts. Of the 36 DNCC wards, 11 women councillor candidates contested as many general seats. They faced 270 male candidates in all. Eight contested in the 57 DSCC wards against 382 male candidates. At the 41 wards of CCC, only three women councillor candidates fought against 210 male contestants. Women leaders said political parties should promote women by incorporating them in their various committees. They should also give nominations to more women to contest the national and local body elections to ensuring womens political empowerment at all levels. They feel the number of women contesting the general seats for councillors posts is still not enough to bring about womens empowerment. It is not enough to raise their voice to realise the just rights of women in the local government body. Taleya Rehman, executive director of Democracywatch, said, It is really regrettable that women are lagging behind year after year in the elections. For how long will women contest only from the reserved seats? About the reasons for womens failure, Rehman observed that women might face intimidation from different quarters during elections. Or, they may not be able to campaign properly as they do not have much money. She said this situation would change only when all political parties and other quarters come forward to support more women.