HC questions legality of BB’s job circular with sexist clauses

The High Court has asked the authorities concerned on why it will not declare illegal the condition for married female applicants to mention the permanent address of her husband as her own.

Following an initial hearing of a writ petition, the High Court also asked why it will not order Bangladesh Bank to issue a new job advertisement for the post of Assistant Director (general) by shunning the condition.

Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam gave the order following a public interest litigation filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust or BLAST and Naripokkho on Tuesday.

The public administration secretary, the commerce secretary, the finance secretary, the Bangladesh Bank deputy governor and its director of human resource, to respond to the ruling within four weeks.

The central bank has been drawing criticism since the first week of December for mentioning a controversial clause in two of its job circulars.

According to Clause 14 of both the circulars, a married female applicant must mention the permanent address of her husband as her own.

The first circular was published on November 27 and the second on December 1, for the posts of Officer (ex-cadre publication) and Assistant Director (general side), respectively.

When women rights activists started to criticize the circular, central bank spokesman Serajul Islam earlier told Dhaka Tribune that they did not see the issue as an “injustice” to the aspirants as the clause was included following an age-old rule set by the government.

He claimed that the way the clause is being interpreted is nothing but a wrong perception.

“Mentioning the address is not mandatory for getting a job,” Serajul said, adding that the female candidates can still use their present address.