Experiences of Women Representatives in Bangladesh
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Gender and Local Governance: Experiences of Women Representatives in Bangladesh Nazneen Islam Khan Ph.D Thesis Department of Political Science University of Dhaka 2014 Contents Declaration Acknowledgements Dedication Abstract List of Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction and Research Methodology 9-31 1.1. Introduction 9 1.2. Statement of the Problems 13 1.3. Objective of the study 15 1.4. Review of Literature 17 1.5. Theoretical Framework 20 1.6. Research questions 22 1.7. Research Methodology 23 1.7.1. Selection of the Study Area 23 1.7.2. Demographic features of Bangladesh 26 1.7.3. Methods of Data collection 27 1.7.4. Sources of Data 27 1.7.5 The sample 27 1.7.6. Data and the Variables 28 1.8. Limitations of the study 29 1.9. Map and the location of the study area 31 Chapter 2: Local Government in Bangladesh: A Historical Overview 32-46 2.1. Local Governance in Bangladesh: An overview 32 2.2. Evolution of Local Government: Its legal and political background 33 2.3. History of Local Government in Bangladesh 38 2.4. Local Governance: Finance 45 2.5. Local Governance Ordinances in Bangladesh 46 Chapter 3: Gender and Local Governance: Bangladesh perspective 47-80 3.1. Objectives of the Gender analysis 47 3.2. Gender 48 3.3. Governance 49 3.4. Good Governance 49 3.5. Major ingredients of good governance 50 3.6. Local Government 53 3.7. Women 53 3.8. Empowerment 54 3.9. Women and their socio economic condition in research area 54 3.10. Women and politics 55 3.11. Social and cultural issues for women in Bangladesh 58 3.12. Family 58 3.13. Patriarchy 58 3.14. Gender discrimination 59 3.15. Violence against women in Bangladesh 60 3.16. Women and Electoral process 61 3.17. Bangladesh: Legal rights and Political Participation of women 61 3.18. Inheritance and Maintenance: Status of women 62 3.19. Gender discrimination in Health issue 63 3.20. Gender discrimination in Education sector 63 3.21. Women’s Participation: Employment status 64 3.22. Rural women’s Economic Activities 65 3.23. Women’s Participation in politics and decision making 65 3.24. Women in party position 65 3.25. Situation of women in Bangladesh 66 3.26. Local Government system: Constitution in Bangladesh 68 3.27. Women of Bangladesh: Equal Rights to decision making 69 3.28. Constitutional Guarantees 72 3.29. Legislative measures 73 3.30. CEDAW 73 3.31. The National Policy for the Advancement of Women in Bangladesh 74 3.32. Articles of the Constitution of Bangladesh on Local Government 74 3.33. Laws and Ordinance(s) of Local Government 76 3.34. Lacking of women in performing local level politics 78 3.35. The future of Local Government: An overview of Bangladesh 78 Chapter 4: Union Parishad: Systems, functions and operations 81-109 4.1. Structures, Systems and Functions of Union Parishad 83 4.2. Organogram of a Union Parishad in Bangladesh 83 4.3. Structure 84 4.4. Local government: State policy of Bangladesh 87 4.5. Functions of the Union Parishad 89 4.6. Others functions 92 4.7. Sources of income of Union Parishad 92 4.8. Responsibilities of the Union Parishad 93 4.9. Standing Committees of an Union Parishad 94 4.10. Women participation in Union Parishad Election (1973-2003) 100 4.11. Union Parishad Election 2003: Some Facts and Figures 101 4.12. Information on Union Parishad Election 2003: At a glance 102 4.13. Election 1997 and 2003: A brief comparative analysis 103 4.14 Major Issues in Union Parishad 104 4.15. Possible Reform Areas 105 4.16. Training 105 4.17. Discipline 105 4.18. National Institute of Local Government (NILG) : Functions 105 4.19. Local Government link with the Central government 106 4.20. Extent of Public Participation 108 Chapter 5: Political Empowerment of Women Representatives in U P 110-140 5.1. Responsibilities of the women members in Union Parishad: 110 5.2. Quota system : A device for women political empowerment in Bangladesh 111 5.3. Quota system: An instrument for political empowerment 112 5.4. Quota and political empowerment: Strategically overview 112 5.5. Quota for reserved seats 112 5.6. Political Party Connection 115 5.7. Participation of Women members in various developmental activities in local level 115 5.8. Health and environment 116 5.9. Women and child development 116 5.10. Relief and rehabilitation activity 117 5.11. Infrastructure development 117 5.12. Social justice, Law and Order 118 5.13. Communication and Committee involvement 118 5.14. Gender and Local Governance: Its implications on development 120 5.15. Gender and Local Governance: Experiences of women representatives so far 120 5.15.1 Profile of a woman Union Parishad Chairperson 121 5.16. Women: Non Voting Rights 122 5.17. Local level Politics: A real scene 122 5.18. Local Governance: NGO-nominated women 123 5.19. Local level election campaign 124 5.20. Authority of Union Parishad 124 5.21. Limited resources of Union Parishad 125 5.22. Union Parishad: Chairmanship 127 5.23. Male attitudes towards women members 129 5.24. Women participation in politics: increasing rate 130 5.25. Women’s capacity to perform in local governance 131 5.26. Experiences of women representatives: Local problems 132 5.27. Received training: important issue 134 5.28. Some practical experiences of the women representatives 134 5.29. To make changes at the structural levels 136 5.30. Insights from the women members: local governance 137 5.31. Quota in local governance: Empowerment of women representatives 139 Chapter 6: Data analysis of the research area 140-182 6.1.1. Profile of the women representatives 141 6.1.2. Educational Qualification 142 6.1.3. Occupation of women representatives 143 6.1.3. (a) Income 145 6.1.4. Behavioral pattern: Male counterpart 146 6.1.5. Women member’s experiences of participation 147 6.1.6. Experience of participation 147 6.1.7. Expenditure of the election 148 6.1.8. Removal of barriers: women representatives’ opinion 149 6.1.9. Responsibilities of a woman Union Parishad member 151 6.1.10. Unit head/Chairperson of a committee 153 6.1.11. Problems faced by the women members 154 6.1.12. Earned benefits for women development from the government 157 6.1.13. Initiatives taken by the women members for local peoples 158 6.1.14. Quota system for participation of women 159 6.1.15. Fulfilling the Election manifesto 160 6.1.16. Main barriers for women representatives 161 6.1.17. After nomination difficulties created by the male counterparts 162 6.1.18. Discharging of duties and responsibilities 163 6.1.19. Family Support 165 6.1.20. The situation of women in local level politics 165 6.1.21. Differences between male and female members 166 6.1.22. Party connection 167 6.1.23. Resources of the Union Parishad 167 6.1.24. Special Findings 168 6.2. General peoples (female) experiences on local representatives 172 6.2.1. Level of Education 172 6.2.2. Occupation of the local peoples 173 6.2.3. Local people: known to women members 174 6.2.4. Male Union Parishad members: working for the development 175 6.2.5. Female members: working for the community development 175 6.2.6.Work difference between male and female members 176 6.2.7. Women Participation in the local government activities 177 6.2.8. Women: progressive part of the society 177 6.2.9. Women members activities: step towards women issues 179 6.2.10. Personal problems: assistance from women members 179 6.2.11. Personal qualities of the women representatives 180 Chapter 7: Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 183-215 7.1. Conclusions 183 7.2. Recommendation(s) 190 7.3. Policy Recommendations 200 Bibliography/References 202 Additional Bibliography 210 Articles 214 Newspapers/Websites 215 List of Annexure Annexure 1: Questionnaire for Union Parishad women members 216 Annexure 2: Questionnaire for the local female peoples: Female 224 Annexure 3: Profile of some NGO working with the local peoples of the study area 229 Annexure 4: Interview date with the key persons 230 List of Figures Figure: 1. Names and total number of UPZs and UPs of the study area 25 Figure: 2. Local Governance system in Bangladesh 41 Figure: 3.Comparative aspects of priorities of Good Governance 52 Figure: 4. The structure of Administration in Bangladesh 82 Figure: 5.Structure of a Union Parishad 84 Figure: 6.Union Parishad: System and function 85 Figure: 7. Local Governance: Success/Achievements and Lack of functioning 95 Figure: 8.Women participation in Union Parishad Election (1973-2003) 100 Figure: 9.Rural Local Bodies Elections in Bangladesh 101 List of Tables Table: 1.Educational Qualification of women representatives in research area 142 Table: 2.Behavior of the male counterparts 146 Table: 3.Women’s member’s experience of participation in local level election 147 Table: 4. Removal of barriers: women representative’s opinion 149 Table: 5. Responsibilities as a Union Parishad member 151 Table: 6. Initiatives taken by the women members for members for local peoples 158 Table: 7. Facing difficulties by the male counterparts: after nomination 162 Table: 8. Male union Parishad members: working for the development 174 Table: 9. Female members: working for the community development 175 Table: 10. Women: progressive part of the society 178 Table: 11. Personal problems: assistance from women members 179 Table: 12.Quality of a woman representative 180 List of Graphs Graph: 1.