Prince urges effective women’s participation in local govt elections

Administrator of Mymensingh District Council, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, has urged political parties, the administration, the Election Commission, civil society and the media to work together to ensure women's effective participation and representation in the upcoming local government elections.

"Women's political participation is not a favour; it is their constitutional and democratic right. There is no alternative to ensuring women's active leadership to make local government, the institution closest to the people, more effective, accountable and participatory," he said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable titled "Women's Representation, Expectations and Responsibilities in the Upcoming Local Government Elections" organised by The Hunger Project and Bikashito Nari.

The event was held at a local restaurant in Mymensingh city and chaired by Bikashito Nari Mymensingh district unit President Lutfunnahar.

Prince said women's participation in decision-making at every level must be increased to further strengthen Bangladesh's development and democracy.

"As local government is the institution closest to the people, it offers the greatest opportunity for developing women's leadership. Creating a favourable environment for competent, honest and people-oriented women to contest elections is a collective responsibility of the state and society," he said.

He said women's empowerment should not be limited to reserved seats, adding that opportunities for women to establish leadership through direct elections must be expanded.

This requires changes in social attitudes, leadership development training, a safe electoral environment and sincere initiatives by political parties, he said.

Mymensingh city BNP Joint Convener Prof Sheikh Amzad Ali, Mymensingh district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Abdul Karim, Kanya Shishu Advocacy Forum President Advocate Shibbir Ahmed Liton, Mymensingh city Mohila Dal President Farida Parvin, journalist Niamul Kabir Sajal and representatives of various political, social and women's organisations spoke at the meeting.

The speakers said greater participation of women was crucial to making the local government system more effective and people-oriented.

They called for concerted efforts to enable women to participate in elections without fear or hindrance, while stressing the need for political parties to play an effective role in developing competent female leadership and raising social awareness.

The participants put forward various recommendations to increase women's representation in local government and expressed hope for a free, fair and inclusive local government election.