She made the remarks on Saturday afternoon (November 15) at a roundtable discussion titled “Women in Democracy”, held at the BIS Auditorium in the capital.
Samantha Sharmin noted that political parties are increasingly focused on elections, which has delayed necessary structural reforms. “Due to a lack of internal reform, women remain largely excluded from leadership positions in major political parties,” she said.
She further stated that Bangladesh's political landscape is dominated by money, weapons, and muscle power, which disproportionately favors men. “This power-based culture prevents women from participating in meaningful decision-making roles that shape the country's trajectory,” she added.
Sharmin also raised concerns about the political system’s failure to attract marginalized communities. “We are not able to bring marginalized people into politics. Women are still excluded from important decisions that drive national progress.”
The event brought together several political and social leaders to discuss women's participation and reform in democratic processes.
