http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=33600
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Friday, April 25, 2008
National Women's Development Policy
By Wasiqur Rahman Khan
The government, in all its wisdom, has referred the National Women
Development policy to a committee of ulemas. The following are just
some excerpts drawn from The Daily Star of Friday, April 18 which
highlight the ulemas' response.
"A woman cannot enjoy rights equal to a man's because a woman is not
equal to a man by birth..." "...the ulema recommended aboli****ng the
section that suggests steps to implement the UN Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)".
"...not only is it impossible to establish equal rights for men and
women in the country, but in some cases giving women equality would
deprive them of their rights in many sectors."
"The committee opposed inclusion of women in peace-keeping missions,
saying it would make women insecure and it could tarnish Bangladesh's
image".
"They also opposed the provision that women "must be given equal
op****tunities and participation in wealth, employment, market and
business"".
Ironically, women seem to have been absent from the entire discourse
regarding a policy aimed specifically at them? Am I the only one who
is outraged by all of this?
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