They said participation of women in policy formulation can also stop discrimination and violence against them.

The seminar on 'Women in Politics in Bangladesh' was organised by Legislative Support Service Project (LSSP) of Manabik Sahajya Sangstha (MSS) in the city.

In her keynote paper, Dr Dilara Choudhury said political participation of women in our country is marginal as they are in weak position in our society.

She said the government is promise-bound to ensure more involvement of women in politics and every aspect of development as a signatory to different international conventions.

"But unfortunately they are not interested in doing so as the mainstream politics is male-dominated", she said adding "It could be perceived from their silence over the increase of reserved women seats in parliament."

"Women members of parliament from the reserved seats were neglected and they were not involved in any decision making process", said Razia Matin Chowdhury, a former MP from the reserved seat.

She said there should be fixed quota for women in political parties for their nomination to parliament election.

G M Kader MP said leaders of women organisations and political parties should sit together as soon as possible to take a decision about the reserved seat of women in parliament.

The seminar was also addressed by Roushan Ershad MP, Advocate Promod Mankin, Prof Dr M S Akbar, Prof M A Mannan, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sheikh Shahidul Islam of Jatiya Party (Manju), Ahas Habib of Communist Party of Bangladesh, Anjum Ara of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Deborah Healy, director, Political Party Programme of National Democratic Institute.

The speakers urged the government and leading political parties to fulfil their electoral pledges to increase women's involvement in power structure, leadership and decision making process.

They said negative attitudes towards women's political participation should also be changed.