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Dhaka Day by Day

Women’s Struggle in Politics

by Fayza Haq
"Women for Women" had a seminar on" Women and Politics* at their annual convention held at the National Musuem. Among the various papers read on the occasion was the one by Mcghna Guhathakurata, Assistant Professor of the Department of International Relations at the Dhaka University.
Ms. Guhathakurata said that in order to bring the "women's agenda" into the mainstream politics a democratic polity and an antl-fundamantillst altitude ts csscntlal.She pointed
out that demands such as equal rights to property, a uni versa! personal code, freedom to criticise social and political institutions and attempt to change them will never be posstbk without a free press, an Independent Judiciary and a sovereign parliament. assur Ing each citizen his or her fundamental rights. She added that one of the chief reasons why P<’
lltical parties do.not want to champion the women's cause is that in a traditional society like Bangladesh they would probably lose votes.
Fazila Bano and Flrdaus AzIm. of "Naripokkho" In thetr paper on "Struggle for Women's Emancipation*, said that women occupy a minority position (regardless of numerical status), and their demands lack popular appeal within populist democracies. They added "Women's movement has to tread a difficult and dangerous ground — one of gaining ground for their positions, while not being tempted Into losing the main basis for thetr protest for the sake of popular acceptance. The Tanbazaar campaign is one example of the problem with popularising women's Issues. Within popular systems of political discourse, and even within political language. It is impossible to address the question of women in prostitution without bringing In the larger question of equality."
Dr. Najma Chowdhury. Professor of Political Science, Dhaka University said that apart from the Prime Minister the leader of the opposition and a few others, there were not many women taking an active part In politics tn Bangladesh. The participation of women is not only not wide, Dr. Chowdhury said, but ft remained disorganised and unsystematic. She said."Women arc at a disadvantage In society. They have setbacks in everyway — social, economical, legal, and political.How many women arc there among the minsters? This can be taken as the criterion for the position of women in soclcty.The relation between non-polittcal women's organisation and women
involved In politics help determine the strength and nature of women's political power Politics centres around men and is determined by them. Neither the needs nor the viewpoints of women are reflected in the present politics. *
Dr Chowdury added that the bodies which take political decisions about public policies . which determine women's equality are tn the hands of men who may not he sufficiently interested. Although thetr equality la acknowledged . she added, no strong step is taken to
। get rid of thetr gender gap.
S. Rowshan Qadir , Director Research, National Institute of Local government. had a , paper on "Prob lent* and Poaal-billtiea of Women's Participation at Grass-root Level". Ms. Qadir pointed | out that 1f wo-| men .who are 1 half of the hu-' man resource and work force. | do not participate in the overall devel opment and po
lltical process then the desired development will not be possible. She said that while lx>th In developing . and developed countries the participation of women in politics is limited. In Bangladesh, the involvement Is particularly low.
To Improve thetr conditions women should. Ms. Qadir said, a) participate in politics and administration b) be active and nonactive members of political parties c) participate tn political rallies, meetings and political discussion e) use thetr right to vote.
Malika Begum of Bangladesh Mahlla Parishad said that medieval outlook and values prevent the progress of women . Whenever women fight for thetr due rights , she said, traditional values , religious dominations, and prejudices hold back the women. The main aim of women's movements, she stressed, was to achieve the rights of citizens.
Begum Sellma Rahman. M.P.. said that in our modern world women's position In politics Is mainly achieved by inheriting the power. It is remarkable, she continued that In the developed world women have not come out In politics as they have 1n the developing world. She added that the men were not yet ready to share political power with women.
Rashid Khan Menon ,M.P. and General Secretary of Bangladesh Workers' Party . talking on the subject, said that our mass of women, in the villages and at the lower social level, were not actively participating in politics. He too pointed out that Bangladeshi women in general still needed to come out actively tn the political sphere.