Despite projecting itself as a reformist coalition, the alliance’s candidate lineup shows minimal space for women.
The 11-party electoral alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, finalized its seat-sharing arrangement on Thursday, marking a significant step toward the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. However, as the dust settles on the seat counts, a glaring disparity has emerged that calls into question the alliance’s commitment to the “July National Charter”—the very document it claims to uphold.
The Numbers: A Male-Dominated Frontier
According to the announcement made by Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, the alliance has distributed 253 seats among its partners. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has taken the lion’s share with 179 seats, followed by the National Citizen Party (NCP) with 30, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis with 20. Other partners include Khelafat Majlis (10), LDP (7), AB Party (3), BDP (2), and Nezame Islam (2).
The remaining 47 seats are earmarked for Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Andolan, and JAGPA. If an agreement with Islami Andolan Bangladesh is not reached, Jamaat is expected to field its own candidates in those remaining constituencies.
While the parties have yet to release all individual names, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has gone public with its list. Remarkably, out of the entire 11-party alliance’s projected 300 candidates, only two women have been found so far—both from the NCP:
- Dilshana Parul (Dhaka-19, Savar)
- Nabila Tasnid (Dhaka-20, Dhamrai)
Violation of the “July Charter” Spirit?
This total of two women represents a staggering 0.67% of the 300 seats. This figure stands in direct conflict with the July National Charter 2025, which mandates a minimum of 5% female nomination for each general election until the long-term goal of 33% is achieved.
For an alliance that has marketed itself as the “Pro-July” force and a champion of state reform, the 0.67% figure is seen by many as a betrayal of the Charter’s inclusive spirit. Critics argue that while the alliance speaks of “systemic change,” its internal culture remains deeply resistant to female leadership.
Comparison with Rivals
The contrast becomes even sharper when compared to their primary rivals. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has announced candidates for a significant number of seats, has included 10 women (approximately 3.33%) in its primary lists. While the BNP is also short of the 5% mandate, its representation is nearly five times higher than that of the 11-party alliance.
Growing Public Skepticism
The omission of women from the prominent candidate lists of Jamaat and its Islamic partners has sparked debate among the electorate. “If they cannot find more than two capable women across 300 seats, how do they plan to represent a nation where half the population is female?” questioned one political observer.
As the election approaches, the 11-party alliance faces a credibility crisis. To the public, it appears that for all the talk of “New Bangladesh,” the alliance’s vision of the future looks remarkably like a past where women are relegated to the sidelines of power.
