Dhaka: Zaima Rahman, daughter of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman, today emphasized the crucial role that political parties should play in advancing women in politics. She highlighted the challenges women face in Bangladeshi politics and urged political parties to take significant steps in promoting female participation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zaima, who is also the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, made these remarks during a discussion titled ‘Women in the Struggle for Democracy: Contribution and Future Bangladesh’ organized by Women in Democracy (WIND) at an auditorium in the capital. She called for a code of conduct within every political party to ensure the safety of women in politics, suggesting that parties should protect women leaders through legal means if their safety is compromised.
Zaima Rahman, who studied law in London and has recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years, has actively engaged in politics by participating in her father’s election campaign for the upcoming national elections. She urged political parties to provide support and training opportunities for women, emphasizing that all parties should take responsibility for bringing women forward in politics. She also stressed the importance of financial support for women contesting parliamentary or local government elections and called for societal attitude changes towards women leaders.
ActionAid Bangladesh’s country director, Farah Kabir, participated in the discussion, expressing concerns about the trend of removing women from leadership positions ahead of the 13th national elections. She emphasized the need for cultural shifts in politics and encouraged women to step up and participate actively to transform the political landscape.
Other notable speakers included Barrister Sara Hossain, who discussed the unfulfilled promises of eliminating discrimination, and lawyer Sarwat Siraj Shukla, who highlighted the increasing online and offline harassment of women. Labour leader Kalpana Akhtar and freedom fighter Lutfa Hasan Rozy also spoke, advocating for respect towards women and the necessity of building a democratic culture in society.
The discussion saw contributions from several academics, journalists, and activists, including Professor Mirza Taslima, parliamentary candidate Taslima Akhter, Professor Nahrin Islam Khan, and others, all emphasizing the need for collective efforts to foster a supportive environment for women in politics.