13th National Parliament Election: 7 Women Candidates Elected
In the 12th National Parliament election, 19 women candidates were directly elected, whereas in the 13th National Parliament election that number has dropped to only 7. This means that within just one electoral cycle, women’s representation has decreased by 12 seats, a development that is being viewed with concern in political circles.
Despite Being Key Voters, Women Barely Lead in Bangladesh Election
Female candidates remain significantly underrepresented in Bangladesh’s 2026 election, with only 85 women contesting out of 1,981 candidates. Despite women being a key voter group, their low presence in leadership and campaign activities highlights ongoing gender gaps in politics, say activists and candidates.
Lowest Number of Female Candidates in a Decade and a Half
In Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, women remain severely underrepresented, with only 65 female candidates around 3.5 percent contesting despite women making up nearly half of the electorate, highlighting persistent gender bias within political party nominations and the absence of enforceable legal safeguards.
Bangladesh's National Election Sees Alarming Drop in Women's Participation!
Among the total candidates, only 81 are women, which accounts for just 4.08%. This figure has been identified as disappointing in terms of women’s participation in the national election.
Where Are Women in the Election Battle? Have Parties Honored Their Commitments?
As part of the interim government’s initiative for state reform to bring the country back to a democratic path, it was stated that in the 13th parliamentary election, political parties would nominate at least 5 percent women candidates in the existing 300 parliamentary constituencies. Have the parties complied with this commitment?
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