Year
2025
Reform Domain
Women
Sub Domain
Policy-related
Source of Reform Proposals
Women's Reform Commission Report
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
This reform proposal has been articulated in the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission Report. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s manifesto for the 13th National Parliamentary Election also included directly related pledges: “Increasing employment of women in formal economic Sectors.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
On 29 January 2026, the interim government gave final approval to the draft Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2026. The proposed framework defined sexual harassment to include physical, verbal, psychological, suggestive and digital conduct and provided for women-led complaint committees, verbal, written and online complaints, investigations within 90 days, confidentiality, complainant protection, psychological support, compensation and disciplinary measures, including warning, suspension and dismissal from service. However, the ordinance was not issued by the President. Similarly, on 13 April 2026, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs initiated an inter-ministerial meeting concerning the proposed Prevention and Protection of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Act, 2026, indicating that the broader legal framework continued to advance through formal government consideration.
Observation
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On 29 January 2026, the Interim Government gave final approval to the draft Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2026. The proposed framework defined sexual harassment to include physical, verbal, psychological, suggestive and digital conduct and provided for women-led complaint committees, verbal, written and online complaints, investigations within 90 days, confidentiality, complainant protection, psychological support, compensation and disciplinary measures, including warning, suspension and dismissal from service. However, the ordinance was not issued by the President.
Following the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs convened an inter-ministerial meeting on 13 April 2026 concerning the proposed Prevention and Protection of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Act, 2026, indicating that the broader legal framework remained under formal government consideration. Subsequently, on 29 June 2026, the Women and Children Affairs Minister informed Parliament that initiatives were under way to enact the proposed legislation. However, no timeline for finalising or introducing the bill has been announced, and the extent to which the revised framework will require all private-sector organisations to adopt a code of conduct defining acceptable behaviour and language, establish complaint and redress mechanisms, and enforce disciplinary measures can only be assessed once the draft legislation is made publicly available.
Resources