Law reform for gender equality: From where we left off…
Scrutinising our laws on sexual violence is even more crucial now in view of the horrific Kolkata rape incident
3m ago
'What about us?'
While discussing the legal recognition of gender identity, many participants highlighted that the state authorities and general people lack sufficient understanding of the various clusters of the transgender population.
1y ago
Changes in Labour Rules will actually reduce maternity benefits
Laws and policy frameworks must be sensitive towards the rights of maternity protection
2y ago
A rape victim’s journey to justice should be easier
The fact that a rape victim’s journey towards justice is a grueling one is not unknown to us.
2y ago
Penalising victims of child marriage isn’t the right way to go
Two 15-year-old minors were recently sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by a mobile court in Netrokona for getting married before they were legally old enough to do so.
3y ago
Backlogged factory inspections: Now is the time to act
We have witnessed yet another factory fire catastrophe but this time it involves a factory which does not cater to international garment retailers—hence, loss of lives of the workers burnt inside the Hashem food factory would perhaps be forgotten even sooner.
3y ago
On removing character evidence from the law
It is indeed a relief to know that section 155(4) of the Evidence Act that allows character evidence in rape cases will perhaps finally be removed.
3y ago
Whistleblowing and Secrecy Law: Where is the Balance?
The legal protection for secrecy of “nationally important” information and its conflict with the free press constitute a dichotomy that has long been debated around the globe. Although governments are usually granted legal protection to keep certain documents and information undisclosed, guarantees of right to information and press freedom are considered essential to ensure government accountability.
3y ago
October 19, 2018
Deportation of Rohingya migrants from India
Almost a year ago, the Indian government announced its plan to deport “all illegal immigrants” including approximately 40,000 Rohingya refugees estimated to be living across India. In August 2017 in a letter sent to each of the state governments, India's Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order to “identify and deport all illegal immigrants”, including Rohingya refugees. The home ministry as well as leaders of the ruling BJP insisted that there were links between illegal migrants and threat to national security as they were perceived to be more vulnerable to potential recruitment by terrorist organisations.
August 10, 2018
Assam citizenship row: Will Bangladesh be affected?
More than four million people in Assam are possibly no longer Indian citizens as per the recently published draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a process meant to identify and delist those who are “illegal migrants” living in this northeastern state of India.
July 8, 2018
Proving 'good character' in a rape trial
It is often the case that rape victims prefer to remain silent or "settle" the matter through informal village mediations, instead of resorting to the formal legal system.
June 21, 2018
The 'shameless' victim of the 'shameful' offence
The courts in the subcontinent including our Supreme Court had held in a number of decisions that in case of sexual offence there is no illegality in convicting the accused on the sole testimony of the victim. But in reality, the courts have hardly applied this rule in a rape prosecution, particularly in Bangladesh.
May 31, 2018
Colonial law doesn't do justice to rape victims
The current definition of rape in our Penal Code was formulated in 1890 back in colonial times.
September 27, 2016
The illegalities of enemy turned vested property
The law of enemy property has a long and complex history in Bangladesh. Although it originated from the emergency laws
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