The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a conference here on Sunday underlined the need for formulating specific plan to ensure the participation of women in politics as their representation in the country's legislature is only five percent.

South Asia Partnership (SAP)- Bangladesh, organized the conference titled 'Women's Political Participation and Violence' at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Chairperson of Community Development Library (CDL) Mohiuddin Ahmed presented the keynote paper while executive director of SAP Syed Nurul Alam gave the welcome speech.

President of Bangladesh Network of Women Lawyer Association Advocate Fawzia Karim Firoz and Secretary of Odhikar Adilur Rahman Khan also spoke on the occasion.

In his keynote paper, Mohiuddin said violence against women is one of the major factors that restrict women to participate in politics.

An analysis of the major national political parties shows that share of women in the highest level of political leadership is very low, he said, adding women comprise only 15 percent of both Awami League and BNP's national executive committees."

Fawzia called for formulating effective policy and specific long-term plan to ensure participation of more women in politics and policymaking.

She urged the bankers to provide loans to the self-reliant women entrepreneurs without the signatures of their husbands to make themselves confident and empowered.