GDP would triple if women's household work were valued: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin stated on Monday that Bangladesh's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would nearly triple if women's unpaid household contributions were monetized and included in national economic calculations.

Speaking at a discussion for International Women’s Day at the Election Commission (EC) auditorium in Agargaon, the CEC emphasized that while women's labor forms the backbone of the economy, it remains undervalued in official statistics.

Reflecting on recent electoral processes, the CEC lauded the performance of female officials. He revealed that while several allegations of irregularities were investigated, all substantiated claims involved male presiding officers.

"We have found no allegations of bias or misconduct against female presiding officers so far," Nasir Uddin noted. To encourage this standard of integrity, the Commission plans to introduce special awards recognizing the contributions of women election officials.

The CEC highlighted significant progress in balancing the voter list. He noted that the gap between male and female voters has narrowed from 3 million to approximately 1 million following door-to-door updates.

"I have personally seen women waiting in line until late at night to register," he said, describing the trend as a "highly positive" shift for the country's democracy.

Beyond household work, the CEC acknowledged the vital role of women in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector and through remittance-earning expatriate work. He concluded that because women’s labor is a foundational pillar of the national economy, their contributions must be fully recognized and respected.