Hindu, Muslim Marriage Laws
Govt urged to ensure women's equal rights
Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to take effective measures for ensuring women's equal rights in Muslim and Hindu marriage laws.
There are two laws--Muslim Personal Laws based on Shariah Laws and Hindu Personal Laws--which contradict in some areas the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), they said.
The government should remove these contradictions by withdrawing its reservations on two articles of CEDAW for the convention's full implementation, the added.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organised the discussion at the capital's Jatiya Press Club to observe International CEDAW Day yesterday.
Meanwhile, women's rights activists at a human chain yesterday said religious fundamentalism or constitutional limitations could not hinder the commendable act of withdrawing the reservations because the two articles gave women equal rights to marriage.
Although Bangladesh ratified the CEDAW in 1984, it has kept reservations on Article 2 and Article 16 (1) (C) fearing that these articles would contradict the prevalent marriage laws.
Law Commission Chairman (acting) Prof Shah Alam said the government overemphasised that ratifying those articles would hurt Muslim sentiments. Their ratification will not contradict Shariah Laws, especially the Qur'an and Hadith, he added.
Ayesha Khanom, president of Mahila Parishad, said if women could not enjoy human rights at an individual level, they would not have them at national level.
A total of 42 gender rights groups formed the human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club. The organisations include Karmojibi Nari, ActionAid, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and Ain O Salish Kendra.
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