Dhaka – The United Nations has called for ensuring the safe, inclusive, and meaningful participation of women in Bangladesh’s general election, scheduled for Thursday.
The global body issued the appeal on Wednesday, a day before the polls, the first national election since the South Asian country experienced a violent uprising in 2024 that ousted then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, the UN emphasized that safe, inclusive, and meaningful participation in elections is a fundamental right for everyone.
This includes the rights of women—particularly women with disabilities, those from minority communities, and persons of diverse gender identities.
The statement noted that the UN is aware of concerns raised by various women’s organizations and civil society groups—including political leaders and activists, journalists, and human rights defenders regarding the harassment of women voters and candidates.
Specific concerns include cyberbullying, deepfakes, coordinated online harassment, misuse of distorted images, and the dissemination of AI-generated sexually suggestive content during the election period.
The UN warned that incidents of election-related violence could pose a serious threat to the democratic process.
It called on all partners to ensure that no form of discrimination or violence against women occurs, and urged everyone to play a responsible role in maintaining a peaceful election environment.
