Women's participation declines, Mahila Parishad demands quota restoration in govt jobs

Expressing concern over the steady decline in women's participation in government jobs, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has demanded the reinstatement of a special quota for women. The organisation said positive measures must continue to ensure fair representation of women in the administration.

In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday (July 28), the organisation's President Dr Fawzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu said recent reports based on Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment data and expert opinions have highlighted the declining representation of women in the administration. This is not merely a statistical issue but a significant policy challenge for women's empowerment, equal rights and an inclusive state system.

The Mahila Parishad said women are unable to reach a level playing field for competition due to their relatively lower participation in higher education, unequal distribution of family and social responsibilities, insecurity and discriminatory social realities. As a result, their representation in government jobs and decision-making levels is declining.

The organisation argued that reinstating a specific quota for women is an internationally recognised positive measure. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) also recognises such special measures. According to them, maintaining the quota for women is not just a matter of protecting rights but a prerequisite for building a democratic, non-discriminatory and inclusive state.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has made a strong demand that the state and government maintain the quota and other special positive measures for women until they achieve equal and fair representation in government jobs and decision-making.