Updated on Friday, June 12, 2009, 20:47 IST

Dhaka, June 12: Even as Indian political parties fail to reach a consensus over the Women's Reservation Bill, Bangladesh is all set to increase by more than double the number of reserved seats for women in parliament.

"The number of reserved seats for women in parliament will be increased to 100 and there will be direct election in these seats," Finance Minister A M A Muhith told the House while presenting the budget for 2009-10 yesterday.

The women MPs have so far been nominated by political parties on the basis of the proportion of their representation in parliament.

At present, only 45 seats are reserved for women in the Bangladesh parliament.

Muhith said in line with its election commitment, the Sheikh Hasina government has started working to ensure recruitment, promotion and placement of women in top positions of the administration, armed forces, autonomous bodies, educational institutions and judicial service.

The December 29, 2008 general elections brought Awami League with three fourths majority while the Election Commission declared 45 women MPs elected unopposed in reserve seats in March.

Bureau Report