Shujan questions declining number of female voters
UNB
Expressing concern over declining number of female voters in national voter lists, Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) yesterday demanded that the reasons behind the trend be identified.
The demand came at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club which was chaired by the organisations president M Hafizuddin Khan, reports UNB.
Sujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder read out a written statement noting the high number of women who wont be able to exercise their voting rights in upcoming elections as they were left out from the latest voter list which was published in January 2015.
He also said Many women were left out as the Commission has failed to discharge its duties properly.
Dr Majumder said as per 2008 voter list the number of total voters were 8,10,58,698 and there were 14,13,600 more female voters than male voters, with gender gap at +1.74 percent.
As per 2013 voter list, the number of total voters was 9,19,80,531 and the number of female voters were 2,91,399 less than male voters and gender gap increased to -0.32 per cent. Thereafter, as per latest voter list (draft) gender gap increased to -11.67 per cent and in its final draft the gap is -12 percent, he added.
Raising questions over the gender gap, Dr Majumder alleged that not visiting door-to-door in latest update to the voter list and inadequate campaign on the issue were the main reasons behind it.
Syed Abul Maksud said this Election Commission is not able to even conduct local-level elections. If Chhatra League and Juba League are given the duty to hold polls, they would be able to hold a better election than the current Commission.
