Make pledge to enact law to erase discrimination in society

The convener of the Citizen Platform and Honourary Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya has urged all political parties to make a clear commitment to enacting comprehensive legislation aimed at eliminating discrimination across all levels of society. He stressed that alongside legal reform, public awareness is indispensable to building a just and equitable Bangladesh.

He made this call while addressing a citizen dialogue titled "Enacting an Effective Anti-Discrimination Law" held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon on Saturday.

Dr Debapriya said that Bangladesh has long felt the need for a legal framework to combat deep-rooted discrimination. "For the past few years, we have felt that a legal framework is needed to combat discrimination in Bangladesh," he stated. "During the previous government, we had also taken the initiative to enact a universal anti-discrimination law, and a draft was also prepared."

He noted that the spirit of equality reemerged strongly during last year's student-led uprising. "In the context of the current government coming to power, especially in August last year, the anti-discrimination spirit that has emerged through the student uprising has encouraged us. This is not just a quota movement but an anti-discrimination movement. Now is the time to shape that spirit into a legal framework," he said.

Emphasizing the interconnection between justice, elections and reform, Dr Debapriya observed that these three pillars must align to ensure democracy's sustainability. "If we want fair justice, we must protect citizens and ensure their fundamental rights. Similarly, the introduction of a universal anti-discrimination law is essential for fair elections and effective reforms," he added.

Attorney General Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman, BNP leader and Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, and economist Dr. SR Osmani were also present at the dialogue.

Barrister Sara Hossain, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), presented the keynote paper, highlighting the legal context, existing challenges, and necessary policy interventions to eliminate discrimination from Bangladeshi society.