With Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, a deeply concerning trend has emerged in the candidate lists — women make up only a tiny fraction of those contesting, prompting alarm among rights activists and civil society groups. Latest data shows that out of 2,568 nomination papers submitted for the national polls, only 109 candidates are women, accounting for just 4.24% of the total — far below expectations and formal commitments made earlier by political parties and electoral authorities.
At a press briefing held in Dhaka on Monday, rights groups highlighted that this stark underrepresentation underscores a serious gap between political rhetoric on gender equality and the reality of party practices. The Forum for Women’s Political Rights, along with several other organisations, condemned the low number of female candidates as “deeply disappointing” and called for greater accountability from both political parties and the Election Commission.
Data Reveals Disparity Between Promises and Practice
According to official figures cited by multiple news outlets, only 109 women out of the 2,568 total candidates contesting parliamentary seats are female. Among this small number, 72 were nominated by political parties while 37 are independent candidates. Shockingly, no political party nominated more than 10 women candidates on its list, and 30 out of the 51 parties participating in the election did not field a single woman.
These figures come despite earlier commitments by parties under the July National Charter 2025, which included a clause requiring political parties to nominate at least 5% women candidates for the election, with plans to gradually scale this up in the future. However, the minimal compliance with the charter – with many parties failing even to meet that base threshold – has triggered intense criticism from civil society.
The disproportion is not only numerical but also symbolic: political commitments of gender inclusion have repeatedly been highlighted by major parties in their manifestos, yet the nomination reality suggests those pledges have not translated into meaningful action.
Rights Groups Question Political Will and Institutional Oversight
Speaking at the press event in Dhaka, rights activists stressed that the pattern of low female nominations reflects deeper structural inequities within Bangladesh’s political system. They argue that parties continue to treat women’s participation as an afterthought — a symbolic gesture rather than a democratic priority.
“The failure to nominate a significant number of women reveals a fundamental disconnect between party commitments and actual practice,” said a leading representative of the Forum for Women’s Political Rights. The speakers demanded that parties be held publicly accountable for failing to honour even the minimum commitments they made under the July National Charter.
Additionally, activists urged the Election Commission to play a more assertive role in enforcing rules related to women’s political representation. They called on the electoral body to scrutinise party nomination practices and ensure equitable opportunities for women ahead of the national polls.
Beyond formal commitments, the forum highlighted broader issues in party politics. According to rights activists, women — although comprising over half of the country’s population — remain largely excluded from positions that would allow them to influence decision-making or serve in directly elected legislative roles. Reserved parliamentary seats for women, which are allocated based on party vote share, do create representation, but activists argue that they do not carry the same legitimacy as direct elections to general seats.
Civil Society’s Response and Demands
In response to the alarming statistics, a coalition of 71 women’s, human rights and development organisations issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over what they called an inherently “patriarchal political culture” that sidelines women. The group emphasised that true gender equality in politics cannot be achieved through rhetoric alone but requires intentional structural reforms in party nomination and campaigning processes.
These organisations have called for:
- Concrete, enforceable quotas for female candidates that go beyond voluntary pledges by parties.
- Stronger regulatory action by the Election Commission to ensure compliance with gender inclusion directives.
- Public accountability mechanisms for political parties that fail to nominate women in proportionally significant numbers.
- Broader institutional reforms to empower women within party hierarchies and encourage their leadership in elections.
Many activists have also stressed that the current trend undermines democratic legitimacy. They note that despite constitutional guarantees of gender equality and long-standing demands for more meaningful participation, women’s marginalisation on nomination lists suggests lingering biases and institutional barriers.
Historical and Structural Barriers to Women’s Representation
Observers point out that women’s participation in Bangladeshi electoral politics has historically lagged behind, even though women have played prominent roles in major political movements — including the mass protests that led to significant political change in 2024. Yet even with such participation at grassroots levels, political parties have not translated that momentum into electoral opportunities at the national level.
Political analysts say that party nomination processes often favour established male leaders, which entrenches existing gender imbalances. They argue that without affirmative measures and intentional quotas, women are likely to remain sidelined in competitive elections for parliamentary seats.
Experts also note that reserved seats for women — while important for representation — do not replace the need for women to compete and win general constituency seats. A greater presence of women in directly elected roles could strengthen democratic inclusiveness and policy outcomes on issues ranging from education and health to economic empowerment and social justice.
Looking Ahead: Election and Beyond
With just weeks remaining before the polls, parties have a final opportunity to revisit nomination lists and address glaring gender disparities. However, rights groups say that last-minute adjustments are not enough; what is required is a substantive shift in how political parties view and promote women’s leadership.
As election day approaches, this issue is likely to shape public discourse and influence voter perceptions, particularly among women and youth constituencies. Many observers say that without decisive action, the 2026 election could be remembered not for democratic progress but for its stark failure to include women as equal contenders in the country’s political future.
