100 Seats For Women In Parliament Essential: Badiul Alam

Election Reform Commission Chief Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar has emphasized the need to allocate 100 seats for women in the national parliament.  

Speaking at a discussion titled "What Kind of Constitution Do We Need" held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday (November 16), Dr. Majumdar criticized the current system of reserved seats for women. He stated, "Allocating 50 reserved seats for women in parliament is an insult. Women should be given 100 seats, and these should be filled through competitive elections. Currently, these seats are often secured by money, which undermines their significance."  

Dr. Majumdar also clarified a common misconception, saying, "A caretaker government will not automatically return if the 15th Amendment is repealed; parliamentary intervention would be required."  

Highlighting the importance of the constitution for all citizens, not just legal experts, he said, "The constitution has been distorted through various amendments, especially the 15th Amendment, which altered one-third of it and tarnished its sanctity. No one has the authority to change its fundamental structure, yet the constitution currently contains numerous inconsistencies that need to be addressed."  

On the topic of reserved seats, Dr. Majumdar remarked, "The current system reduces women to a symbolic presence and undervalues their role. Reforms are necessary to bring women to power through direct elections. If the parliament has 400 seats, 100 of them should be reserved for women, based on merit and through genuine elections." He also stressed the importance of ensuring accountability at the grassroots level.  

In the same discussion, Media Reform Commission Chief Kamal Hossain noted, "In the past, the constitution has failed to resolve political crises; instead, it has exacerbated them."