Laws need to be drafted on the basis of public opinion

A Sharing Meeting on ''Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2014'' and ''Muslim Marriage & Divorce (Registration) Bill 2014'' was organised by Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association (BNWLA) on October 28, 2014 at the auditorium of BRAC Centre INN, Dhaka. Adv. Fawzia Karim Firoze, President of BNWLA and Hon'ble Member of National Human Right Commission, Bangladesh presided over the meeting and Advocate Salma Ali, Executive Director of BNWLA moderated the program.

Md. Imman Ali, Hon'ble Justice of Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh graced the programme as Chief Guest. Kazi Reazul Hoque (Fulltime member of National Human Rights Commission); Md. Lokman Ahmed, Honorable Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Mr. Hector D. Soliman (Team Leader-Community Legal Services) were attended as  the Special Guests. Representatives of different GOs, NGOs, INGOs, lawyers, media personnel and other stakeholders participated and shared their opinions. Advocate Towhida Khondker, Director of BNWLA presented a power point presentation on the bills.

Hon'ble Justice Md. Imman Ali stated that law is enacted for people and is amended for the need of people as well. He then remarked that child marriage is a social disease that harms our society.  “Minimum age of marriage for both male and female should be same; otherwise it will be unconstitutional which guarantees equal right”, He added.

Advocate Salma Ali, urged the Government to fix 18 years as minimum marriageable age for women. She further stated that child marriage is one of the causes of domestic violence and further stated that BNWLA filed a writ petition for a direction upon government to make provision regarding the determination of age on the basis of national ID card and also to make birth registration digitalised.

Adv. Fawzia Karim Firoze, stated that accountability of relevant persons has to be ensured through enacting provisions in laws. All columns of Nikahnama need to be compulsorily filled up by Nikah Registrars as per wish of both parties so that women can exercise their rights as per the terms and conditions of Nikahnama.

Mr. Hector D. Soliman remarked that issues included in the draft bills are very significant with the present context of Bangladesh. He expected that the proposed bills would be enriched through the judicious recommendations of Justice Imman Ali and it would definitely be helpful for women and children.

Kazi Reazul Hoque,  sadi that  child rights need to be ensured by setting up Ombudsmen or Child Commission.  

Laila Karim, Save The Children; Ruma Sultana, Manuusher Jonno Foundation; Faruq Ahmed, Plan International Bangladesh; Nadira Parveen, Nagorik Udyog; Shahnaz Akter, Nari Pokkho, Fatema Rashid Hasan, Community Legal Services; Shirin Lira, Community Legal Services; Advocate Kamrul Islam also spoke among others.

Source:  Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association (BNWLA).