Platform for direct election for women observes hunger strike

Denouncing the provision of taking women representatives in parliament through nomination, they said it virtually denies women of any meaningful status as women leaders and their effective participation in policy making.

Implementation Committee for Reserved Seats of Women in the Parliament through Direct Election, representing more than 35 women and human rights groups, organised the programme as part of its prolonged movement for effective women representation in parliament.

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"Though direct election was an election-pledge of the ruling BNP, the government's stand in this regard still remains unclear," said Supreme Court Senior Advocate Rabia Bhuiyan.

She said nominating women lawmakers hinders their meaningful empowerment to take part in development programmes and policy-making and deprives them of holding a legislative constituency of their own.

Women must have independent and clearly demarcated constituencies directly representing a certain people, she added.

"We don't expect much of the government as it is ruthlessly suppressing any political dissent," Sharmeen Murshed of Brotee said, "But we have to carry on for our rights."

The provision of nomination will help a certain political party as its vote bank, she added.

"Both the BNP and Awami League sympathise with our demand while in opposition but forget their commitment when in power," said Rekha Chowdhury of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.

The government is reluctant to direct election because of its alliance with fundamentalist elements, said Ivy Rahman of Mahila Awami League.

Maleka Banu of Mahila Parishad, Shahin Manwar and Meher Afroz of Women Voice, Israt Jahan of Nagarik Samaj, among others, took part in the strike.