POLITICAL and electoral violence at the national and local levels is a significant issue in Bangladesh, impeding the democratic process. Like many developing countries, Bangladesh’s politics and elections are defined by the so-called ‘three Ms’ of money, muscle, and manpower, which result in the country’s politics being often violent.

Starting from the liberation war in 1971 to the last national election in 2018, Bangladesh has experienced various patterns of political violence that impact women in unique ways. Unlike conventional political violence that seeks to shape political competition, political violence targeting women often aims to prevent women’s participation altogether.

Data suggest political violence is having its intended effect. According to a study from the Institute of Informatics and Development, only 69 out of 1,848 candidates in Bangladesh’s 2018 national elections were women.

How political violence impacts women

THERE are several types of political violence that women face far more than men, namely verbal harassment, cyberbullying, family barriers and physical threats.

Women face verbal harassment that is often personal and gendered. Because of religious and social customs, politics is viewed as a male domain inappropriate for women’s participation. Consequently, impugning the character of a woman who is interested in politics is often an effective tool for driving her from the political arena.

According to the 2017 International Foundation for Electoral Systems report — Electoral Violence Education and Resolution — psychological violence in the form of intimidation and verbal harassment accounts for 42 per cent of all incidents of violence against women, and women are three times more likely than men to be victims of intimidation. The study also finds that women party leaders, supporters, and candidates are the largest category of female victims of political violence and that psychological violence constitutes 90 per cent of political violence.

The internet has created a new medium for political violence against women. Cyberbullying on social media is another form of violence against women politicians at the national and local levels. In interviews, women from Bangladesh’s two major political parties expressed frustration and helplessness against online harassment, which can come from both inside and outside the party.

A woman leader from an opposition party said, ‘The opponents create squads to bully political women who are not only running for a nomination or election but also women who have potential.’ Unfortunately, this is not only from the opposition parties; many times, it’s from her own party — male and even female competitors.

Family pressure is also a problem. In Bangladesh, family support is essential for women’s advancement in all sectors, particularly politics, which is often considered taboo. In many cases, however, families pressure women to avoid or withdraw from having a political career. Several female political leaders have revealed in interviews that their husbands have threatened to divorce them because they are involved in politics.

Physical violence and threats of violence also occur. Rape and death threats are common. Women politicians and activists face hate speech and various threats to themselves and their family members. For example, on September 7, 2022, a female district  council candidate was returning from an election campaign event when she was waylaid by five men and raped at gunpoint at Bagmara, Rajshahi. ‘They raped me to keep me from running in the election’, the victim later told a newspaper.

While these types of political violence against women are well known and documented, there are few studies that examine the full extent of the problem.

Preventing electoral violence against women

BECAUSE political violence against women is a social as well as a legal problem, it is difficult to fix. The government has passed legislation to prevent teasing and sexual harassment of women, and there are a number of laws that can be used to protect women from online and physical harassment.

Although the Bangladesh government is committed to women’s empowerment, the current laws and policies seem severely inadequate for increasing women’s participation on the frontlines of politics. More can be done by the state and society. Political parties should meet their legal obligation of having 33 per cent women in all of their committees and nominate them to run for elections. Civil society and non-governmental organisations can promote women’s participation and skills training and raise awareness among men about women’s role in politics. Finally, society and family should not punish women for having political aspirations; they, rather, should cultivate them.

With these steps, Bangladesh can begin to slow the tide of political violence against women and foster a new generation of women leaders.

Ruaksana Haque is an advocacy specialist at International Republican Institute.