Women got 20.27 per cent of the 74 positions so far announced in the new central working committee of the ruling Awami League.
Women are still underrepresented in Awami League although all political parties registered with the Election Commission have pledged in their amended party constitution to increase the proportion of female representation to 33 per cent by 2020 in line with the electoral law as amended in 2009.
The representation of women in the top decision making body of the Awami League after it 20th national council session, held in October 22-23, increased by 6.27 percentage points to 20.27 per cent from previous
term’s 14 per cent.
After the triennial council session, the Awami League announced its new central working committee in three phases with the latest phase on Saturday keeping seven positions – three presidium members and three secretaries and a deputy secretary – vacant in the 81-member body.
The party amended its constitution at the 20th council session in Dhaka increasing eight positions, including four presidium members, taking to 81 the number of members on the central working committee from 73.
The number of women on the new working committee increased to 15 from 10 on the previous committee.
Four women – party president Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Matia Chowdhury and Sahara Khatun – are among the 16 leaders on the new 19-member AL presidium announced so far. They retained the positions.
Dipu Moni was the only woman among the four joint general secretaries.
The Al secretaries also included four women – agriculture secretary Faridunnahar Laily, women affair secretary Fazilatunnesa Indira, education and human resource secretary Shamsun Nahar Champa and health affairs secretary Rokeya Sultana.
Shamsun Nahar Chanpa and Rokeya Sultana were inducted into the committee while Fazilatunnesa Indira retained her position and Laily was the relief and social welfare secretary on the previous committee.
Six of the 28 general members were women – Simin Hossain Rimi, Munnujan Sufian, Parvin Zaman Kalpana, Merina Jahan, Shammi Ahmed and Marufa Akter Poppy.
Simin Hossain Rimi and Munnujan Sufian retained their positions and Parvin Zaman Kalpana, Merina Jahan, Shammi Ahmed and Marufa Akter Poppy were newly inducted into the committee.
The 26-member advisory council of the party included only two women – Hamida Banu and Sultana Shafi. They retained the positions.
No female leaders were, however, dropped from the committee.
Constituting 50 per cent of the country’s population, females are still underrepresented in the Awami League although Sheikh Hsaina has been at the helm of the party since 1981.
AL presidium member Muhammad Faruk Khan however said that the party was on the right track to increase the proportion of female representation to 33 per cent by 2020 in line with the electoral law.
‘In most parties across the globe women are lagging behind in terms of leadership. We are on the track to achieve the target,’ he said.
Source: New Age
