http://www.newagebd.com/2008/apr/19/edit.html
New Age, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Saturday, April 19, 2008
EDITORIAL
Equal rights for women is a constitutional guarantee
When the acting khatib of the Baitul Mukarram national mosque says
that he and his likes =91strongly oppose the idea of equal rights of men
and women since they are not equal in nature=92, it springs little
surprise; after all, people like them have consistently and, mind it,
not so covertly resisted empowerment of women using religion as a
pretext. What is surprising, however, if not shameful altogether, is
that the interim government chose such a group of people in the first
place to review the National Women Development Policy 2008. The review
committee of 20 Islamic clerics, led by the khatib, according to
re****ts in the national media, on Thursday submitted its re****t to the
government wherein it suggested that all provisions for equal rights
of men and women =91should be dropped=92. In fact, the committee had
suggested deletion of 15 clauses from the policy and amendment to 15
others. =91The committee has found inconsistencies in its [women
development policy] language and interpretations,=92 the law adviser to
the interim government told the press on Thursday. =91The re****t will be
sent to the women affairs ministry for its consideration.=92
The women development policy, in its current content and intent,
falls way short of the expectations of the gender-sensitive and
democratically-oriented sections of society. It is crafty rather than
comprehensive and, not so inconspicuously, avoids the issue of
inheritance. Overall, the policy seems to cater to the whims of those
obscurantist and bigoted sections of society that have religiously
opposed the democratic ideal of equality between men and women rather
than protect and promote the interest of women, who constitute a half
of the population but have been brazenly discriminated against in the
spheres of private and public life. The policy is a testimony to the
fact that the interim government, despite its endless rhetoric about
its commitment to democratic ideals, is either unable or unwilling to
challenge some of our patriarchal customs and traditions and establish
gender equity in all spheres of public and private life. Its latest
action vis-=E0-vis the policy seems to suggest that the government has
never had what it takes to face up to the obscurantist and bigoted
forces and establish the democratic ideals of equality of men and
women.
The interim government has hardly ever failed to wax rhetoric about
its commitment to upholding the constitution at any cost. Must we
remind it that it is the constitution that says women =91shall have
equal rights with men in all spheres of the State and of public life=92?
Are we to assume that the government is forsaking its constitutional
obligation at the browbeating of the obscurantist sections of
society?
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