Corporate negligence killed a mother and son. Do we even care?
On the afternoon of March 3, 2021, three-year-old Ruhit was playing in front of his residential building located inside the Provita Fish Feed hatchery, when he fell into a large septic tank that had been left uncovered.
15 March 2021, 18:00 PM
Ten reforms we need to end impunity for rape
In keeping with this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, I, as a legal researcher, #ChooseToChallenge how ineffectively our lawmakers have dealt with rape, one of the defining manifestations of gender inequality.
8 March 2021, 18:00 PM
What changes does the recent ordinance make to our law on violence against women?
On 13 October 2020, our central law dealing with violence against women, i.e. Nari o Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000 (Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000) was amended for the second time since it was enacted, by an ordinance.
7 November 2020, 18:00 PM
Marital rape killed a child in our country. Why is it still legal?
On October 25, 2020, a 14-year-old girl from the Kalia village in Basail upazila, Tangail, reportedly died due to excessive genital bleeding after being admitted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
29 October 2020, 12:11 PM
Why the death penalty will do nothing to end impunity for rape
On October 13, the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 was passed making some changes to our central law on violence against women and children.
15 October 2020, 18:00 PM
Justice for Jonny: Ending impunity for custodial torture at last
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka found three police officers guilty of custodial torture in what is the first known judgment under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act 2013.
10 September 2020, 18:00 PM
Narayanganj Mosque Fire: Authorities must pay for their negligence
On Friday night, a massive explosion took place in Baitus Salah Jame Masjid in Narayanganj, killing 24 people and injuring dozens more, most of whom have sustained over 70 percent burn injuries.
7 September 2020, 18:00 PM
Holding companies liable for death by negligence
On May 27, 2020, a devastating fire broke out in the corona isolation unit of United Hospital in Gulshan, which claimed the lives of five patients who were receiving treatment there.
15 June 2020, 18:00 PM
Virtual courts and the future of justice
On May 9, 2020, the president of Bangladesh sanctioned the operation of virtual courts by the judiciary by passing the Adalot Kortrik Tothyo Projukti Byabohar Odhyadesh 2020 (roughly translated as the “Use of Information and Communications Technology in Court Ordinance 2020”).
20 May 2020, 18:00 PM
Why we need to stop using the term ‘working mothers’
The annual celebration of the Mother’s Day brings with it the usual outpouring of love and appreciation for the primary caregivers in our families, but it also tends to bring to the fore some of the deeply ingrained conceptions (and misconceptions) about motherhood in our society.
14 May 2020, 18:00 PM
We have laws but why don’t they work?
This year’s International Women’s Day, as the ones before it, comes with a reminder that the culture of impunity for violence against women (VAW) continues to be a concern, despite there being a myriad of laws that are meant to counter VAW in our country.
7 March 2020, 18:00 PM
Why do rape cases stay out of court?
Despite the frequent media reports of rape in Bangladesh, existing studies suggest that most rape survivors do not take legal action.
7 February 2020, 18:00 PM
Why crossfire will not solve our rape problem
The recent rape incident of a second year Dhaka University student has reignited widespread public frustration on the prevailing culture of impunity for rape in our country.
16 January 2020, 18:00 PM
The colonial legacy of rape laws
Rape continues to be one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women in the world and Bangladesh is sadly no exception.
27 November 2019, 18:00 PM
What legal action can a male rape victim take?
On August 19, 2019, Jamir Ullah*, a 45-year-old father of one based in Sreepur, hanged himself from a beam off the balcony of his home after being gang raped by 10 men.
31 October 2019, 18:00 PM
Sexual harassment and the law: Where’s the problem?
Since its inception in 2017, the #MeToo Movement has been spreading across the world; it has brought to the fore the grave extent to which women from all strata of society face sexual harassment in their daily lives.
26 June 2019, 18:00 PM
Why our religious leaders must condemn Nusrat's murder
Any Bangladeshi with an iota of humanity should still have their conscience reeling over the heinous murder of Nusrat, the brave girl
19 April 2019, 18:00 PM
Remembering the barbarities of Operation Searchlight
On the fateful night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army officially launched its campaign of genocide in erstwhile East Pakistan, by unleashing death squads that mercilessly killed 7,000 unarmed, innocent Bengalis in one single night.
24 March 2019, 18:00 PM
State liability to pay compensation for rape: A necessary ruling
On March 10, 2019, the High Court issued a rule demanding the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other concerned authorities to explain why they should not be ordered to pay compensation of Tk 50 lakhs to a young woman who had been raped by two police officers in Manikganj earlier in February.
14 March 2019, 18:00 PM
Why I do not support the killing of 'rapists' by 'Hercules'
Recently, the bodies of three "rapists" have been found shot to death with culpatory notes hanging around their necks. On January 17, the first body was found by the police in Savar,
13 February 2019, 18:00 PM