Ensuring economic rights to the married women in their family life is
very important to reduce violence and repression against them, speakers at a daylong
participatory discussion said here on Saturday.
They mentioned many of the married women are forced to leave their
family in empty handed even after 20 or 30 years of conjugal life when they were divorced. And
ultimately, they are subjected to various forms of violence and repression.
So, there is no alternative to ensure economic empowerment to them in
conjugal life.
The observations came at divisional workshop styled “Ensuring Economic
Rights to Married Relations Women: Obstacles and what to be done” held at BRAC Learning
Center in Rajshahi.
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) organized the workshop
to discuss
the prolonged legal procedures in the family courts and different
others issues relating to
socio-economic vulnerability of the women litigants.
The discussants called for establishing separate family court for
speedy disposal of the
family related cases. There should also be measures of appointing
women-friendly judges
in the courts.
Additional District and Session Judge Iliash Hossain addressed the workshop as the chief
guest with BLAST local unit President Advocate Nazmus Saadat in the chair.
Dr Zahidul Islam Biswash, Legal Adviser of BLAST, and Dr Hasibul Alam Prodhan,
Associate Professor of Law of Rajshahi University, presented the keynote papers.
They raised various issues like longevity in disposing of the family
related cases, legal complexities in the field of decree issuing cases, women-friendly
atmosphere in courts and present condition and expectation in this regard.
Prof Dr Sultana Mostofa Khanom and Dr Zannatul Ferdous of Rajshahi University,
Senior Assistant Judge Sirajul Islam, Senior Assistant Judge Suraiya
Sahab, Assistant Judge Rejaul Karim and District Social Service Officer Hamida Begum
were the panel discussants. BLAST local unit coordinator Advocate Abdus Samad moderated the
The participants in three group discussions put forward a set of
recommendations how to establish economic rights of the married women in family life.
Around 100 people comprising judges, academics, legal practitioners,
NGO leaders, students, victims and others concerned from different districts of the
region attended the workshop.
-BSS, Rajshahi
