Only a small fraction of the recently unveiled cabinet comprises women, with just three out of 49 members, making up a mere 6 percent of the top government body.
According to sources within the BNP, Afroza Khanam Rita, the newly elected MP for Manikganj-3, is expected to take on the role of minister for civil aviation and tourism. Shama Obaid Islam, the member of parliament representing Faridpur-2, is set to serve as the state minister for foreign affairs, while Farzana Sharmin Putul from Natore-1 will assume the position of state minister for two ministries — women and children affairs, and social welfare.
The vast majority of cabinet positions, approximately 94 percent, will be held by men in the new cabinet lineup. Interestingly, the previous three cabinets had higher female representation compared to the current one.
In the 2019 cabinet, there were four women among 47 members, accounting for about 8.5 percent of the total composition. The female members included then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dr. Dipu Moni, Begum Monnujan Sufian, and Begum Habibun Nahar, each serving in various ministerial capacities.
During the 2014 cabinet, there were five women among 57 members, representing 8.77 percent of the total cabinet. Notable female figures included Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadek, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, and State Minister for Information Tarana Halim, alongside Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The 2009 cabinet witnessed the highest female representation with five women among 31 members, making up around 16.12 percent of the cabinet. This included the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sahara Khatun, Dipu Moni, Matia Chowdhury, and Munnujan Sufian, each holding significant ministerial portfolios.
Experts have expressed concerns that the decrease in female representation within the cabinet could potentially erode the progress made in women’s political empowerment over the years. The meager 6 percent representation underscores the disparity between the population’s gender distribution and women’s involvement in policy formulation, they emphasized.
Kamrun Nahar, a member of the women’s rights group Naripokkho, noted that the low representation of women in the cabinet was disappointing but not unexpected. She stressed the importance of the government prioritizing women in decision-making roles and called for meaningful changes to promote active female engagement in politics with strong political backing.