Dhaka, Jan. 12 -- Women candidates account for a mere 4.24 percent of total contestants in the national elections, prompting criticism from a coalition of 71 women's, human rights and development organisations.

The Social Resistance Committee said the "alarmingly low" numbers reveal a "patriarchal political culture" and called on political parties and the Election Commission to take steps to improve female representation.

In a statement on Monday, the platform said only 109 of the 2,568 candidates in the race are women, calling it a "gross imbalance" in terms of gender representation.

The platform expressed surprise that most political parties did not nominate a single woman candidate.

"Even the political party that publicly claims 40...