& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Women to the fore

Mamunur Rashid
HE recent election, held after preparation of more than two years, deserves our attention, particularly from the-perspective of
restoring democracy and political stability, which is our most precious goal or
concern.
Yet, different people are scrutinising the election from different angles, which is a healthy practice. I would like to draw your attention to the issue of participation. especially from the perspective of women.
According to primary estimates, as
high as 87.17% votes were cast in this election. Women and new voters particularly caught the attention of most of us, and they chose candidates who are progressive and secular, and have a positive visioli for development That was one o>f the decisive factors in the elections.
The total number of voters was 81,058,698, of which 41,236,149 were women, and around 33% were voting for the first time. This is looked at positively by many.
The parties, especially the AL, complied with the directive of the Election Commission for better representation of women in the parliament. The AL nomi-
nated 17 women in 19 seats -- 15 of them won. Three women from the BNP and one from Jatiya Party also got elected, making a total of 19 direcdy elected women MPs
Higher turnout of women voters was due to initiatives by the caretaker government to prevent electoral violence, irregularities and religious influence, combined with tight security and massive awareness and campaign.
Another reason is that the electoral process was women-friendly as more women worked as election officials and also as observers and media activists. Even observers from abroad were surprised to see such high turnout of women.
There were no female candidates from Jamaat-e-Islam. Some people have said that, apart from the party’s negative stand on the issue of the trial of war criminals, its debacle in the election was also due to the fact that women rejected them.
Some of the winning women candidates were reserved seat members in the last parliament. They capitalised on their
past experience to contest in the open seats. Women have proved that, if there is no influence of money and muscle, they are also capable of competing in national level elections.
Overall, there is an indication that the culture of suppressing women on the pretext of religion, culture and family values has ended. Everyone is hopeful that if the current pace continues, then the target set by the EC of at least 33% women's representation will be met well before 2020.
Women's participation as election officials was als^rgm^rkable. Three- of ( 67 returning officers were women (4.5%). Out of the 587 assistant returning officers 34 were women, which is 5.8%. A good number of women worked as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, too.
The political parties nominated a huge number of women as polling agents. Overall election environment was women-friendly. There were separate polling centers for women. Apart from
been recognised by all quarters. Different national dailies published reports of incidents in which women collectively protested attempts by influential political leaders and activists to unduly influence the voting process.
Previously, women were used to cast fake votes. But that did not happen in this election. Women of the minority communities were able to cast their votes freely too thanks to the tight security.
Some women could not vote as their names were not in the voting lists, though they had national ID cards. In some places, women hadio wait for a long time j to find their names or voter numbers. Some also reported problems regarding folding or sealing the ballot papers in the correct manner. This is one area that needs more campaign in the future.
Morning shows the day. We believe the change visible everywhere should be sustained in the coming days.
that, special initiatives were taken for physically challenged and elderly persons so that they could cast their votes without difficulty.
Another notable achievement for women was the fact that in a number of areas they were able to cast their votes for the first time. Surat union of Jhenidah, four unions of Madaripur, Gopalganj and Noakhali, and Rupasha union of Faridganj, witnessed women voting for the first time.
Religious misconceptions or men's influence were the main reasons behind yvpmen's hrotin^'Yest^dtibn^' fn' tH^e 9 areas. Stranded Pakistanis also exercised their voting rights for the first time, and women's presence was also remarkable.
In the Chittagong Hill TYacts, women's participation was spectacular. Cooperation by local administrations, election officials, and different NGOs was a key to ensuring a free and fair atmo-
sphere for women.
Women's improved participation has
Mamunur Rashid is a development activist working as Deputy Coordinator, Steps Towards Development
***There were no female candidates from Jamaat-e-lslam. Some people have said that, apart from the party's negative stand on the issue of the trial of war criminals, its debacle in the election was also due to the fact that women rejected them.****