The Women’s Reform Commission has recommended increasing the number of seats in the Jatiya Sangsad to 600, with a proposal to allocate one general seat and one reserved seat for women in each constituency—both to be filled through direct elections.

The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Saturday at the state guest house Jamuna, outlining a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring greater female representation in politics.

The report proposes that if the upper house is introduced in the future, male and female candidates nominated by different political parties in a proportional ratio for 50 per cent of the seats will be nominated using the 'zipper' method.

So that an equal number of women and men are nominated from each party. In the remaining 50 per cent of the seats, 5 women's movements among other groups will be ensured representation on a non-partisan basis, it recommends.

The zipper system requires parties to create a candidate list in which the gender of the candidates alternates between women and men so that when seats are allocated, the gender of the elected members alternates for each additional seat a party wins.

The commission also stressed the need to create a congenial environment for women in politics through the promotion of democratic practices within political parties.

Dr Yunus urges quick implementation of Women Affairs Commission’s recommendations

It suggested enacting regulations to eliminate social and corruption-related barriers and making the inclusion of women in political participation mandatory under the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

To strengthen women's representation at the local government level, the report recommended introducing both a general seat and a reserved seat for women in each ward. This arrangement is proposed as a temporary special measure for the next three local government elections.

Besides, the commission proposed establishing mechanisms to ensure accountability of female Members of Parliament to women constituents.

Earlier in November last year, the interim government formed the 10-member Women’s Reform Commission, headed by human rights activist and ‘Naripokkho’ founding member Shireen Parveen Huq.