Bangladesh's 12th general election sees record female candidates
A record number of 94 female candidates are in the race to be elected to parliament in the 12th general election of Bangladesh.
Compared to the previous general election, there has been a remarkable increase of 38.24 percent in the representation of female contestants, marking a significant stride towards gender inclusivity in the country's political landscape.
Among these candidates, 26 are running independently, while 68 have been nominated by 14 out of the 27 political parties involved in this election cycle. Additionally, the upcoming polls will see two transgender candidates competing, further diversifying the candidate pool.
Various political entities have actively contributed to this milestone. The ruling Awami League has put forward 20 women candidates for the national polls, while other major parties like Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Congress, and National People's Party have fielded nine female candidates each.
Moreover, smaller parties such as Trinamool BNP, Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijot, and Bangladesh Nationalist Front have also made significant strides by nominating six, three, and three women candidates, respectively. Gano Front and Bangladesh Supreme Party have endorsed two female candidates each, highlighting a concerted effort across multiple political fronts to promote gender parity in representation.
In addition to these, several smaller parties including Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Party (JP-Manju), Bangladesh Nationalist Movement, Kalyan Party, and Bangladesh Jatiya Party have each nominated one female candidate, contributing collectively to this historic surge in female participation in Bangladesh's political arena.