Are women’s reserved seats in parliament only tokens?

March 8, 2024

DHAKA – As per Article 65(3) of our Constitution, 50 women took oath as Members of Parliament (MPs) for the seats reserved for women, some of whom have also become ministers. Reserved seats are intended to politically empower women. But does our present reservation system really promote the empowerment of women politicians?

Meaningful participation in political activities and decision-making is an essential prerequisite for gender equality and for a genuine democracy based on adult franchise. Bangladesh’s parliament features 300 MPs who are elected from single territorial constituencies by direct election. An additional 50 seats are reserved for women who are elected by the 300 directly elected MPs. Such representation unfortunately is not consistent with the much-coveted goal of politically empowering women.

For the reservation system to be effective, the representation of women needs to be both adequate and meaningful. In the 12th Parliament, women’s representation from election to the 50 reserved seats amounts to 14.3 percent. If we add this to the representation by 20 women who were elected from open seats, women’s total representation in parliament increases to 20 percent. This is grossly inadequate and unfair given that women make up half of our population. If we are to achieve true gender equality, to which we are committed as a nation and have done better in many areas compared to many other countries, women’s rightful representation in the national parliament must be no less than 50 percent.

In order to be meaningful, the existing seat reservation system must meet several important conditions. First, the system must not reflect tokenism; that is, the generosity of the political bosses. Second,