Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) - Legal experts and activists have called for urgent reforms to discriminatory laws to sustain the nation's progress and uphold women's constitutional rights. The demand was made at a roundtable discussion titled “Bangladesh Constitution and Women”, held at the Begum Sufia Kamal Bhaban of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Monday.
Advocate Salma Ali, President of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, emphasized the critical need for legal reform and effective enforcement. “While laws against domestic violence exist, their implementation remains grossly inadequate,” she said. “We often approach the High Court for redressal of constitutional violations, but on-the-ground enforcement is where the real challenge lies. Has any government committee or university taken direct action on cases of sexual harassment?”
She further criticized the outdated family laws, which she said perpetuate systemic gender inequality. “Since independence, we’ve abolished some discriminatory laws and created new ones, yet family laws remain highly biased. Without addressing these inequalities, we cannot fully ensure women’s constitutional rights or eliminate social, economic, and physical discrimination,” she explained.
She also pointed to the lack of judicial independence and socio-economic barriers as significant obstacles. “Government apathy, coupled with judicial constraints, has kept women from achieving the equality promised by our Constitution.”
Advocate Maksuda Akter Laily highlighted how women have been historically marginalized despite their significant contributions to the country’s history. “Women were acknowledged during the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War, but often as ‘Birangana’ (war heroines) rather than ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ (freedom fighters),” she said. “Why should women, who contribute so much to family and society, be denied equal rights as citizens? Article 27 of the Constitution guarantees equality, but that remains far from reality for most women.”
She also condemned the rise in mob justice incidents, which she said undermine the rule of law and the Constitution. “Mob justice tarnishes our legal system and fails to deliver the equality we fought for.”
Laily urged the government to honor its commitment to gender equality. “We hoped for equality from this government, and it is high time they ensured it becomes a reality,” she added.
Participants also discussed the progress women have made in education, contrasting it with persistent workplace discrimination.
The underrepresentation of women in governance was another focal point. “Women continue to be denied significant roles in decision-making. Given the chance, they could play a transformative role in shaping the country’s future,” one speaker argued.
The event featured several prominent speakers, including Dr. Rownak Jahan, an academic and researcher; Dr. Shahdin Malik, a constitutional expert and Supreme Court lawyer; Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Advocate Amit Dasgupta, and Professor Imran Azad from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. They echoed the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms to eliminate gender discrimination.