Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has expressed its deep concerns and disappointments over the manifestoes that major political parties rolled out ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections.
Those parties failed to specify their plans about or commitments towards women’s development, it said in a statement read out at a press conference in Dhaka city on Thursday.
The manifestos are without any direction about ensuring women’s political empowerment and active participation in the national parliament, the BMP said.
Even there is no mention in the manifestos of raising reserved seats in parliament by one third and direct voting, and ensuring a neutral and independent Election Commission, it said.
The women’s rights organisation said neither the ruling Awami League nor left-leaning parties took the zero tolerance policy towards violence, abuse and exploitation against women, it added.
BMP Secretary Rekha Chowdhury Andolon (movement) read out the statement at the press conference held at the Sufia Kamal Bhaban Auditorium in Dhaka city on Thursday.
BMP President Ayesha Khanam and general secretary Maleka Banu, among others, were present at the event.
