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Opinion

Issues and laws relating to women empowerment


Bangladeshpost
Published : 24 Dec 2020 08:59 PM | Updated : 25 Dec 2020 12:33 PM

Barrister Nusrat Jahan Tania

Gone are the days when women in rural Bangladesh did not have access to the same employment as men and they did not have the opportunity to engage themselves in income generating activities. Women’s lack of awareness about their rights and responsibilities slows down the effort of bringing them into the main stream of development. Government’s strong initiative and different NGOs are now playing a vital role towards ensuring women empowerment by imparting education and strengthening female leadership at grass root levels. They have been generating the women’s confidence to take decision in every sphere of life so that they can contribute and bring solvency to families and thus free the country from poverty. Bangladeshi women are now in leadership positions at every sphere of national and 

social life.

Half of the population of Bangladesh is women and over the last years, their participation in economic activities has increased significantly. The government has formulated and implanted various policies to ensure women’s advancement so that they can play an influential role in society as decision makers. Even, some constitutional positions have been adorned by women and they have been discharging their responsibilities with utmost sincerity, which bears the testimony of women empowerment.

The concept of women empowerment and efforts in this area has helped the country attain a steady progress in gender equality, which helped Bangladesh to secure the first spot in gender equality (among South Asian countries) for the second consecutive year at the Gender Gap Index of 2017.

Due to the far-sighted decisions of our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has an enviable position in women empowerment abroad for a decade. Back in 2014, she was awarded with “WIP Global Forum Award” from Women in Parliament (WIP) and UNESCO for her leading role in reducing gender gap in the political sphere in South and South-East Asia. She received the “Tree of Peace” Award for promoting girls’ and women’s education in the same year. UN Women also awarded Sheikh Hasina with “Planet 50-50 Champion” while Global Partnership Forum handed over the “Agent of Change Award” for her role in reinforcing women’s empowerment in 2016. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was honored with the Global Women’s Leadership Award for the advancement in women’s education and women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh and in the Asia Pacific region. She also received Global Women’s Leadership Award, 2018 for her outstanding leadership in women education and entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.

Participation of girls in primary schools is increasing as their overall enrollment rose from 57 percent in 2008 to 95.4 percent in 2017. Bangladesh has topped the Gender Gap Index in the primary and secondary education category, and to continue the efforts to this end, the government has extended its stipend program for female students, and undertaken initiatives to make women-friendly environment and infrastructures. 

Bangladesh has been placed in a remarkable position in the globe in women empowerment in the last one decade due to the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina. She is a testimony to the truth that how a woman can bring a change in the world. As part of her government’s efforts for the women empowerment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina increased the women reserved seats in Parliament to 50 from 45. In Bangladesh, women are working in almost every field, whether it is riding a bike or the aircraft. Women are now also working in various important positions in the army, navy and police. Without confining them in household work, women are making a strong ground from grass roots to the 

central level. 

As part of her government’s efforts, massive activities are going on to ensure women empowerment in economic, social and political arena. Laws have also been enacted to resist women repression. For the fourth time in a row, Bangladesh held the top position among South Asian countries in ensuring gender equality.

A number of laws and provisions have been formulated for empowering the women. The Constitution of Bangladesh in its original version embodied the women equality with men and their protection against all violence and discrimination. 

There have been some attempts in recent years by governments to safeguard women's legal rights and improve their social status through laws such as: Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000 (later amended in 2003). In addition, Bangladesh has specific laws prohibiting certain forms of violence including: the Penal Code, 1860; the Anti-Dowry Prohibition Act (1980), the Cruelty to Women Ordinance (Deterrent and Punishment) in 1983, the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act in 1993,and the Prevention of Repression against Women and Children Act (2000). Pornography Control  Act 2012, Child Marriage Restraint Act in 2017, and Dowry Prohibition Act in 2018, Acid Violence Act in 2002, Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2010, Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act in 2012. The laws on children and personal disputes relating to children such as the Guardians and Wards Act, the Majority Act are also there to safe guard male and female child.

However, despite such legal support, Bangladeshi women are still not receiving equal treatment in reality. In this regard, proper implementation of the existing laws is very necessary for the ultimate progress of women. 

Women are nowadays able to balance both the house and work place at the same time. The patriarchal perspective of the society towards women is changing. Family and society’s support are the most important part of a women’s progress. Government and NGO’s support are not enough. Our perception towards women needs to be changed. The most crucial matter is educating a woman and making them financially independent. If from the childhood a woman gets the support from society and her family then nothing can stop her from gaining success.


Barrister Nusrat Jahan Tania is a Lecturer at Southeast University and Director of ICIC