Dhaka, 13 Nov – On Tuesday 150 women political leaders affiliated with Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Party demanded nominations as general seat candidates in the national election at a multi-party women’s conference organized by Democracy International at the Hotel Lakeshore. The conference provided women leaders with a forum to discuss the merits of increasing women’s leadership in the upcoming elections. In the opening session of the conference, top leaders of AL, BNP and Jatiya Party including Selima Rahman, Vice Chairman, National Executive Committee, BNP; Adv Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Organizing Secretary, National Executive Committee, BNP; Dr. Shammi Ahmed, International Affairs Secretary, AL; Shamsunnahar Chapa, Education and Human Resource Affairs Secretary, AL; and Masuda M. Rashid Chowdhury, Presidium Member, JP stood together for increasing women’s nominations for general seats and appointing more women campaign managers in the national election. Many of the general seat aspirants highlighted the positive initiatives they have led to improve the lives of citizens in their communities.
During her address, Katie Croake, Chief of Party, Democracy International said, `The women aspiring for general seat nominations are talented and inspiring role models in their constituencies. It’s time for their political parties to increase women’s voices in the elected parliamentary seats.’
This program was
organized under the Strengthening Political Landscape project (SPL) funded by USAID and UKAid. SPL’s `Narir Joye Shobar Joy’ campaign boasts a growing multiparty network of over 20,000 women leaders across the country and has already supported parties to include 5,570 women leaders in 443 grassroots committees. – Press release
