Dhaka, Nov. 12 -- Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Thursday questioned the need for continuing the system of reserved seats for women in parliament, saying qualified women are now capable of winning elections directly.

"I personally think the system of reserved seats should now be abolished," he said while addressing the launch of an all-party parliamentary caucus for disadvantaged communities at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the Capital.

The caucus has been formed to advance the rights and interests of disadvantaged communities, with the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, serving as its secretariat.

The Speaker said many qualified women leaders had emerged across the country who could contest elections indepen...