Mahila Parishad bats for uniform family law

Human rights activists have emphasized on the need to formulate a uniform family law to ensure equal rights for all in the family.

They made the demand at a virtual meeting organized by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Monday afternoon.

They observed that educated girls were still accepting male supremacy and deprived of basic rights or respect due to family orientation.

Maleka Banu, Mahila Parishad general secretary, said: "Social norms, religious narratives and religion-based family laws are responsible for this kind of discrimination."

She also said: "In the cases of marriage, divorce, maintenance, and adoption, there are discriminations in many religions. In Islam, girls get one-third of the property from their parents which is completely discriminatory."

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Dr Jagannath Barua, a National University professor, observed that women were still lagging behind due to various religious practices.

He said Buddhism is a great religion where everyone can enter the temple and pray together. However, in reality, women are facing discrimination in their own family, as they do not get any property.

Menching Marma, a representative of the ethnic community, said that she wanted her brothers to act sensibly to share their family property with her.

Nirmal Rosario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association, said that Christian women get many benefits under the family law but still there were some inequalities. “This is why a uniform family law will be helpful for all,” he said.

Dr Fauzia Moslem, convener of the event, said: "Our policymakers talk about equal rights of men and women, but on the other hand they don't want to modify the religion-based laws which is surprising. Getting equal share in everything is a fundamental right of women."

She added that it was high time to change the discriminatory family laws and enact a uniform family law to safeguarding the women from discrimination.