The Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad has proposed phasing out the reserved seat system for women parliamentarians, stating that numerous qualified women leaders have now emerged across the country who are capable of contesting elections independently and defeating male candidates.
The Speaker made the proposal during a speech at an event on Thursday (November 12). He asserted that the welfare and advancement of underprivileged people can only be achieved through genuine democracy.
Future of reserved seats
The Speaker expressed the view that reserved seats for women are no longer necessary, as women have become sufficiently empowered in politics. According to him, women have now acquired the capability to participate in direct elections and secure victories.He further stated that reducing dependence on reserved seats is crucial to strengthening the democratic process. This would enable women to participate more competitively in mainstream politics.
Democracy and development
In his address, the Speaker highlighted the importance of democracy, saying that establishing a true democratic system can improve the living standards of underprivileged communities. He also referred to various government development initiatives in this context.Political analysts note that implementing this proposal to abolish reserved seats would require a constitutional amendment. Currently, there are 50 reserved seats for women in the national parliament.
