Women lawmakers smarter than male counterparts: Speaker

BARISHAL, Nov 14: Women lawmakers in the present parliament are more capable and smarter than their male counterparts, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said, praising their knowledge, demeanour and parliamentary conduct.

“Among them, five are barristers and six are doctors. There are also engineers. Some were directly elected, while others entered parliament through reserved seats. I have been impressed by their knowledge, personality, speaking style and parliamentary conduct,” he said.

He made the remarks while attending the centenary celebration and reunion of Barishal Government Girls’ High School as the chief guest on Friday evening.

The speaker also called for abolishing reserved seats for women, saying female candidates are now capable of winning elections directly.

Hafiz Uddin said he had proposed that political parties nominate women for one-third of the 300 parliamentary constituencies, allowing them to compete directly and demonstrate their capabilities.

He argued that reserved seats do not offer women the same opportunity to establish their political strength through direct elections.

Recalling the school’s role in the 1971 Liberation War, he said its campus had served as an important centre for organising the independence struggle. 

The country’s first secretariat was established there, alongside a Sangram Parishad that helped organise the war and train freedom fighters.

He urged former students to give back to the institution, particularly by supporting students from financially disadvantaged families.

Barishal-5 Constituency MP Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and Barishal City Corporation Administrator Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin attended the programme.