Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Calls for Quota Reinstatement to Address Declining Female Representation in Civil Service
The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has expressed deep concern over the declining rate of women’s participation in government service, characterizing the trend as a significant obstacle to gender equality and inclusive governance. In a formal statement issued Tuesday, the organization warned that the current downturn reflects deeper systemic failures rather than simple statistical fluctuation.
Signed by President Fauzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu, the statement follows recent media reports highlighting data from the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) which indicates that women’s representation in the civil administration is shrinking. The organization argues that this decline threatens the broader progress of women's empowerment and undermines the foundational principles of an equitable state.
The Mahila Parishad identifies several structural barriers that continue to impede women, including unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities, persistent social insecurity, and discriminatory traditional practices. These factors, coupled with lower rates of female enrollment in higher education, often prevent women from entering the workforce on a level playing field or advancing into high-level decision-making roles.
To address these disparities, the organization is calling for the immediate reinstatement of quotas for women in specific sectors of government employment. The advocacy group noted that such affirmative action is internationally recognized and aligns with the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
According to the Mahila Parishad, quotas are not merely a mechanism for protecting individual rights but are a prerequisite for building a democratic and non-discriminatory society. The organization has urged the government to maintain these special measures until such time as women achieve fair and proportional representation within the civil service and key governance structures.
