Women’s participation vital to strengthening democracy: CEC

He made the remarks on Monday morning at a workshop on gender equality organised by the UN Electoral Project at the Election Training Institute in Dhaka.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md Sanullah said merely increasing the number of women voters would not be enough; the scope of women’s empowerment must also be expanded.

“Women need to be empowered in several areas-- as voters, candidates and within political parties, as well as in private and development organisations,” he said.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud expressed hope that every political party would increase women’s representation in line with the proportion of women among voters.

He said, “Change is needed not only through legislation but also in the mindset of political parties.''