The United Nations Women on Sunday expressed concern with the Election Commission (EC) over the low participation of women in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12 last.

The issue came up during a meeting between a delegation of UN Women, led by its Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban.

“They shared some experiences regarding the recently held election and also wanted to know from us how women’s participation in elections could be increased,” EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters after the meeting.

He said the EC also informed that seven women won the election through direct votes but there were many other women candidates in the polls.

The issue of women participation depends on the availability of winnable female candidates, he added.

The EC Secretary said the total number of women lawmakers has finally stood at 57 including 50 females elected from reserved seats.

“We expect the women’s representation to be higher in local government elections,” he added.

About the gender gap in voter registration, Akhtar Ahmed said the difference between male and female voters in the electoral rolls had previously stood at around three million, but it has been reduced to 1.8 million now. “We are continuing efforts to reduce this gap further,” said the EC Secretary.

The EC also informed the UN Women delegation that the latest parliamentary election was conducted without violence and no incidents of ballot box snatching were reported, he said.

The delegation members include Christine Arab, Regional Director, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; Gitanjali Singh, Representative, UN Women Bangladesh; and Navanita Sinha, Deputy Representative, UN Women Bangladesh.