Vehemently opposing the bill, the Awami League and the Jatiya Party faction of former president H.M. Ershad demanded direct election to the women's seats in accordance with the poll pledge of the ruling coalition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Opposition lawmakers walked out of the house in protest, but the treasury bench members got the bill passed with a two-third majority.

The opposition MPs said indirect election to the women's seats would be a disgrace for women when the country was calling for their equality and empowerment.

The treasury benches had May 16 amended the constitution to reintroduce women's parliamentary reserved seats for 10 years and raise their number to 45 from the previous 30 seats, which expired with the dissolution of the last parliament in July 2001.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed, who piloted the bill, disagreed with the opposition's contentions, saying it was almost impossible to hold direct election to the women's seats in the current socio-economic situation.

Under the bill, polls to the reserved seats will be held within 90 days of publishing the results of the general election in a gazette notification but election to the reserved seats in the current parliament will be held within 45 days of the law's enactment.

The electoral college for electing members to women's seats will be the 300 MPs elected to general seats.

Demanding direct elections to the seats, most women's organisations have refused to accept the amendment, terming it an "insult to the women community".

Some women leaders told IANS that as the women members would be selected by the choice of the parties, it would be disgraceful.

Bangladesh's parliament now has 300 general seats and with the passage of the bill, 45 more seats for women will be incorporated.

The ruling party said these seats would be distributed to parties in proportion to their general seats in parliament.

Of the 45 seats, the Awami League will have nine seats, the Jatiya Party two seats and the rest will be shared by constituents of the ruling coalition.

In the present parliament, seven women, including Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and leader of opposition Sheikh Hasina Wajed, were elected in the general election held in October 2001.

--Indo-Asian News Service