Women and Youth Engagement in Politics in a Post-Uprising Bangladesh

Project Title: Women and Youth Engagement in Politics in a Post-Uprising Bangladesh  

Project Partner: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh  

Project Timeline: 01 November 2024 - 31 October 2027  

About the Project: 

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is launching a three-year nationwide initiative to strengthen the voices of women and youth in Bangladesh’s political landscape. The project aims to break down entrenched barriers to political participation, build leadership capacity, and foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in a rapidly changing political environment.

Bangladesh stands at a historic crossroads following the youth-led mass movement of August 2024, which led to the resignation of the long-standing prime minister and ushered in an interim government under Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. While women and youth were at the forefront of these events, they remain marginalized in formal political processes due to patriarchal norms, exclusionary party structures, and systemic discrimination. This project seizes the momentum of this democratic transition to empower women and youth as agents of change, address the cultural and institutional barriers to their participation, and promote a more representative and equitable political system.

The initiative will run nationwide with key activities in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and Barisal.

Target Groups

•    Youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

•    Women political activists and aspiring female leaders.

•    Political party members across the spectrum.

•    Community leaders and civil society actors.

Key Objectives & Activities

•    Empower Youth in Politics: Four regional leadership training colloquiums on political theory, democratic principles, media literacy, and campaigning.

Promote Female Leadership: Specialized colloquiums on overcoming gender barriers and fostering cross-party solidarity.

Foster Political Accountability: Four public town halls connecting citizens with political leaders to discuss governance, transparency, and accountability.

Document Women’s Roles in Politics: Research and publish an occasional paper on women’s contributions to recent political movements, supported by activist interviews.

Mental Health Support for Activists: Peer counseling networks and four online mental health colloquiums addressing stress, trauma, and resilience.

Raise Public Awareness: Nationwide multimedia campaigns, op-eds, talk shows, infographics, and monthly blog posts highlighting the role of women and youth in politics.