MJF lauds law ministry for placing anti-discrimination bill in parliament

Manusher Jonno Foundation today congratulated the government for placing the much-anticipated anti-discrimination bill in the Jatiya Sangsad aiming to ensure people's equal rights and uphold dignity.

"We are very hopeful that the draft copy of the anti-discrimination law has been placed in the Jatiya Sangsad," said MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam in a statement.

"The law will be a powerful tool to ensure marginalised people's rights and uphold their dignity," she said.

The draft law has been prepared in light of Articles 27, 28 and 29 of the country's constitution.

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday (April 5, 2022) placed the "Anti-Discrimination Bill-2022" in the national parliament.

Later, the bill was sent to the parliamentary committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry for scrutiny. The committee has been asked to submit a report on the bill within 30 days.

MJF said it has been involved in preparing the draft copy of the law since 2008. Back then, MJF along with different other rights groups ran a campaign for about two years across the country.

MJF has been working for different marginalised groups including persons with disabilities, Dalits, Harijan, ethnic minority people of hills and plain lands, transgender community, landless people, and sex workers for 19 years.

The rights group advocated for including discrimination against all types of marginalised people in the bill.

Notably, National Human Rights Commission primarily raised the issue of preparing a draft law in this regard.

In 2013, a draft copy of the law was submitted to the then law minister.