A delegation of women entrepreneurs on Wednesday urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that female candidates are nominated in at least 150 parliamentary seats and facilitate women voters in exercising their franchise in the national election.

The delegation, led by President of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) Nasreen Fatema Awal, placed the demand during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the latter’s Nirbachan Bhaban office in the afternoon.

“We want the number of women in parliament to increase. At least 150 constituencies should be given to women. We are also requesting the government, through the Election Commission, to extend support to women candidates,” said Nasreen Fatema Awal while talking to reporters after the meeting.

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Noting that women receive various forms of assistance in elections in different countries including the USA, the WEAB president said such support would help women contest comfortably and also encourage female voters to participate freely.

“We want at least 50 percent — that is, 150 of the 300 seats — to be contested by women. We wanted to ensure that women can contest in the election,” she added.

Nasreen Fatema said contesting polls is difficult for women as they don't have easy access to funds in the patriarchal environment. “If the government provides some financial support, many more women will be able to participate in the election,” she said.

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Responding to a question, she said political parties should also increase the share of nominations for women. Right now, some parties give only 5 percent or less of their nominations to women, said the women entrepreneur.

She asked the Election Commission to play a role so that the political parties would raise the share of nominations for women in the election.