BIGD, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), convened a technical consultation workshop titled “Legitimacy and Leadership: Women’s Political Participation in Bangladesh.” The workshop brought together politicians, Members of Parliament, academics, and leaders from women’s rights organizations to gather expert insights and map actionable pathways for reform.
Building on post-uprising policy discussions surrounding women’s political participation, the consultation explored potential reforms to the parliamentary reserved seat system. Participants included women who contested the 2026 election, those nominated to reserved seats in the current Parliament, and women who sought party nomination but were not selected—bringing a spectrum of firsthand experience to the dialogue.
Through facilitated working groups, participants examined different models of reserved seat representation, weighed their advantages, risks, and feasibility against the present system, and identified the actors and pathways critical to reform. The findings and recommendations generated through the consultation will inform the formulation of time-sensitive policy options for government consideration.
