Govt to enact new law to end discrimination against women

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the government will enact a new law, if necessary, to eliminate discrimination against women in society.
“The government is pledge-bound to empower women and remove all kinds of discrimination against them. We will repeal the laws which are responsible for creating any bar to establishing gender equality,” he said.
The minister said the government would not enact any law which hurts the religious sentiment.
Shafique was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on 'Status of implementation of national policies and other commitments related to women in Bangladesh' organised by Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS) at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
Moderated by BNPS Executive Director Rokeya Kabir, the seminar was addressed by Prof Momtaz Begum, chairman of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha, as the special guest.
The minister urged the woman leaders to place to the government their specific recommendations for enacting any law or amending any of the existing laws to establish gender equality and remove any discrimination.
He said the government was sincere to enact a law for making marriage registration for Hindu community compulsory, but a group of Hindu community had seriously opposed the initiative, saying that such law would hurt their religious sentiment.
“There is such a law in India. If a law is enacted making the marriage registration for Hindu community compulsory in Bangladesh, it will be better for them in many respects, including their jobs in foreign countries,” he mentioned.
The minister went on saying that all the people, irrespective of men and women, should work unitedly to eliminate the social and family discrimination against women.
Parliament members Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury and Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Shyamol Dutta, editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, and AM Saiful Hassan, director of NGO Affairs Bureau, also spoke.
They stressed the need for a change in the people's mindset for the empowerment and sustainable development of women.