'Amend Citizenship Act as it is discriminatory'

"If a Bangladeshi woman marries a foreigner then her children cannot claim Bangladeshi citizenship, which is not applicable for males," said Dr Pereira while she was delivering a special lecture on 'Pros and cons of citizen right' organised by Bishwa Sahitya Kendra.

Terming the Citizen Act contrary to the constitution, she said this kind of discrimination cannot be accepted.

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Dr Pereira, also director of Ain o Salish Kendra, said except Bangladesh, all South Asian countries amended their Citizenship Act.

Referring to the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), she said Bangladesh is a signatory to the convention but yet to remove discrimination in the citizenship act.

"The Section 9 of the CEDAW read there must not have any gender discrimination in the citizenship act. So as a signatory to the convention government must amend the act," she said.

Dr Pereira said there is no need for constitutional amendment to bring any change in the Citizenship Act.

"In 4th and 5th periodic report of the CEDAW, government mentioned that the Citizenship Act is discriminatory," she said, adding people have right to know why the process of bringing amendment to the Act is taking too much time.

Justice Mohammed Golam Rabbani presided over the lecture session.