Dhaka, July 28 -- BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday proposed that political parties sign a gentleman's agreement to nominate at least 5 percent women candidates for direct election in the upcoming 13th parliaentary polls.

"We are now proposing that each political party nominate women candidates in at least 5 percent of the 300 general seats in the upcoming election. Since there's no scope to amend the Constitution before the election, this should be a gentleman's agreement for now.

But we want 10 percent of the seats to be contested by women through the constitutional amendment, meaning 30 directly elected women MPs in addition to the 50 reserved seats-bringing total female representation to 80," he said.

Publish...