WOMEN DEMOCRATS IN BANGLADESH

Khalid Omar Siddiqi

 

Recently it was stated in our discussions that Indian Muslim women have not
 done very well in politics. There are no Muslim counterparts to Sonia
 Gandhi, Mayavati, Jaylalita, Mamta Bannerjee, Sushma Swaraj and others. This
 is all true. But can you name a country where the Prime Minister is a woman
 as well as three of the other four most important ministries (Home, Defense,
Foreign Affairs but not Finance) are also headed by women?

 The correct answer is not some where in Western Europe or Latin America but
 a Muslim Country in our own neighborhood. Believe it or not, the right
answer is Bangladesh. This is the first time in modern history anywhere in
the world that an elected national government is almost totally dominated by
female politicians and administrators.

 In my opinion, this Government of Bangladesh, headed by Sheikh Hasina
Wajid, is doing an excellent job right now. Many Muslim countries as well as
other nations can learn a lot from this poor nation of teeming millions. The
country is at peace, both internally and externally, as well as has a
respectable 6.5% rate of economic growth.

Courtesy:Muslim Indian News Letter:March 13,2011