After the completion of voting for the 13th National Parliament’s general seats, attention has shifted to the 50 reserved seats for women. These seats are allocated proportionally based on the number of general seats won by each political party. Bangladesh has held 13 national elections so far, with the number of reserved women’s seats gradually increasing over time.

The first parliament in 1973 had 15 reserved seats for women. The number rose to 30 in the second and third parliaments, though the fourth parliament (1988–1990) had none. Following the 1990 mass uprising and the restoration of democracy, the 1991 parliament again had 30 reserved seats. The same number continued through the sixth and seventh parliaments. The eighth parliament raised the number to 45, and the ninth increased it to 50, which remains the current figure.

Despite this expansion, analysts question whether indirect elections for these seats truly empower women. Researcher Mohiuddin Ahmad described the system as ornamental, arguing that women are selected by party decisions rather than direct voter choice, limiting genuine representation.