See also special areas

At a glance

Structure of Parliament: Unicameral

Are there legislated quotas...

  • Yes for the Single/Lower House?
  • Yes at the Sub-national level?

Are there voluntary quotas...

  • No adopted by political parties?

Bangladesh

(People's Republic of Bangladesh)

Single/Lower house

Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament

Total seats:345
Total women:64
% women: 19%
Election year:2008
Electoral system:FPTP
Quota type: Reserved seats
Election details: IDEA Voter Turnout
IPU Parline
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Reserved seats		 ConstitutionOn 16 May 2004, the Jatiyo Sangshad (the national parliament) passed the 14th constitutional amendment to reintroduce quotas for women (article 65). The number of seats in parliament was raised to 345, 45 (13 percent) of which will be reserved for women in the next parliament. The seats will be allocated to parties in proportion to their overall share of the vote. This quota system replaces the previous quota law which expired in 2001.
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: N/A No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

Sources | Additional information | Contact us

Last updated 2009-09-14

Quota at the Sub-National Level

Quota type:Reserved seats
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Reserved seats
 Electoral law In the Fundamental Principles of State Policy of the Constitution of Bangladesh, article 9 stipulates the representation of women in local government institutions. In 1993 direct election of reserved seats for women in the union parishad (union councils) was provided in legislation by the Parliament. The first election to the union parishad, under the new provision, was held in 1997.
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: No data available No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

Sources | Additional information | Contact us

Last updated 2009-09-14

Additional information

Until 2001 a system of reserved seats for women was used, reserving 30 seats out of 330 to women (chosen by indirect election by the 300 directly elected MPs). This quota system was first introduced by the 1972 Constitution (originally providing for 15 reserved seats for women, out of 315 seats, for a period of 10 years).

In 1978 a presidential proclamation enlarged the number of reserved seats to 30 and extended the period of reservation to 15 years from the date of promulgation of the constitution of the Republic in December 1972. The constitutional provision lapsed in 1987 and was re-incorporated in the constitution by an amendment in 1990 to be effective for 10 years from the first meeting of the legislature next elected. This provision lapsed in 2001.

The Parliament elected in October 2001 did not have reserved seats for women. The reserved seats according to the 2004 amendment were filled in September and October 2005, being allocated to political parties in proportion to their share of the national vote received in the 2001 election.
Last updated 2009-10-16

Sources

No sources available

Additional reading

Bangladesh | Asia | Global

Know about useful additional reading for Bangladesh? Tell us!