Women Vanish From Bangladesh's 2026 Ballot As Parties Sideline Female Leadership
Bangladesh's election landscape has undergone a dramatic shift. A country once defined by powerful female leaders like Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia now sees women nearly absent from the ballot - just 4% of candidates nationwide, many merely placeholders linked to male politicians. From Islamist parties banning women outright to major parties offering only token nominations, the 2026 polls mark a stark retreat for women's political representation and raise urgent questions about the future of gender equality in Bangladeshi politics.
