Dhaka, Feb. 11 -- In Bangladesh's much-anticipated February 12 national elections, one contradiction stands out: the striking exclusion of women from the electoral contest in the democratic transition following the fall of the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. Women played a visible and critical role in the student-led mass uprising that compelled Hasina to step down and flee the country. Their mass participation in the street movement raised expectations that long-standing political barriers were finally crumbling and that women would gain a stronger presence in formal politics. Instead, today's election marks a reversal. Women's participation has declined even compared to the last three elections, highly disputed for rigging, since 20...