Women’s participation in National Election 2026 is mandatory

The National Election is scheduled to be held on 12^th February 2026. It is the long-awaited election since the massive uprising. After everything we’ve seen and waited through, Bangladesh can finally prove that people’s votes decide power. This is why turnout of mass votes and educated choices matter so much from every spectrum of society. The 2026 election can be viewed as a landmark moment to reset the political machinery and restart democracy.

Women’s participation matters especially in Bangladesh’s 2026 election. They make up about half the population but their representation has consistently been low. To reform the policies affecting the cultural, economical and political climate for women, women’s participation in this election has become essential. This election will decide the policies on their safety, healthcare and education and their fully informed choice needs to reflect the outcome of this election.

In addition to electing members of parliament, voters will also decide on a constitutional reform charter via a nationwide referendum on the same day of the election. This adds more pressure for the voters especially women to cast their vote having made the fully informed choice.

It is reiterated that this election is especially important for women because all major active political parties are explicitly centering “reform” narratives that directly affect women’s lives. Whether it is BNP or Jamaat, both are campaigning on promises that touch women’s social roles, legal rights, economic participation, education, and moral or cultural frameworks.

In recent campaigns, we’ve seen contrasting promises aimed at women. Where BNP has proposed introducing a “family card”, the other party Jamaat has promised to reduce working hours. On the surface, both are framed as reforms meant to support women but their implications are fundamentally different. The enforcement of long term impact of any such proposal will decide the outcome but now is the moment to decide which direction we choose to move in.

Elections are not the final judgment on policy outcomes; they are a choice of trajectory. The trajectory does not need only to decide outcome but create a pathway to influence accountability. Educated choices will eliminate manipulation and misleading information. Making an educated choice can realistically mean to check a candidate’s past actions and understand how policies affect daily life and separate religious, cultural, or social pressure or any bias before casting the votes.

The decision at the ballot box will decide the trajectory, responsibility and accountability of the elected party and for women it will shape the boundaries of choice, dignity, and opportunity for years to come.