Bid to Stop Discrimination Against Women
HR boss for removal of state religion provision
The government must amend the constitution to withdraw the provision of state religion and thereby prevent discrimination against women, said National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman yesterday.
The government is not taking necessary steps in this regard over fears of being criticised by religious fundamentalists, he said while addressing a roundtable “Women's access to property in Bangladesh's context”.
Jatiya Kanya Shishu Advocacy Forum and Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh jointly organised the roundtable in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
Politicians, when not in government, raise their voice for women empowerment but become reluctant to implement this demand after being elected, alleged Mizanur.
He also criticised activities of development organisations, working to empower underprivileged women and establish their rights, as no effective change was seen in this regard.
He emphasised the need for accountability and transparency in the activities of non-government organisations which spend huge amounts of foreign donations in the name of developing rural women's lives.
No law can help ensure the equal access of women to property or other sectors until women's opinions are accepted in society, said Mizanur.
The government can at least introduce a system of equal property distribution of a man and woman when they are married and even when they are divorced, he said.
Sujan General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar chaired the roundtable and Assistant Prof SM Masum Billah of Jagannath University's law department presented a keynote on the occasion.
Bangladesh Law Commission acting chairman Prof M Shah Alam and Advocate Rehana Sultana of Bangladesh National Women Lawyer's Association also spoke at the programme.
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