Women Archives | Reform Tracker Bangladesh

Expand the government’s performance indicators on gender equality to include more indicators from the SDGs. For monitoring purposes, identify and monitor a set of gender equality outcome indicators for all sectors, from a list of national-level indicators.

Propose and take measures for approval to amend the Any Other Business, AOB of other ministries and divisions to clarify their role in promoting gender equality and development in their policies, plans and programmes.

Establish child and women-friendly specialised courts, with separate facilities for private hearings and needs-based facilities.

Decide to establish two separate wings with specific scope of work, skilled human resources, budget and support services for the efficient management of women and children’s affairs activities in the MOWCA.

Establish a central digital database for storing marriage registration data, requiring a national identity card and birth certificate. Introduce a system (linked to the digital database) to verify existing marital status before granting permission for new marriages.

Increase the number of cyber tribunals, giving priority to districts with high incidences of online crimes, especially technology-induced gender-based violence against women.

Amendment of the Pornography Control Act, 2012: The proposed Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025 amends the Pornography Control Act, 2012 to include digital child sexual abuse material and digital non-consensual pornography as offences. To ensure appropriate redress for online harm, the definition of pornography should include digital pornography, digital child sexual abuse material and digital non-consensual pornography.

To formulate an ordinance clarifying the definitions of sexual harassment, sexual assault and harassment in the light of the 2009 High Court directive to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions.

Review the Bangladesh Civil Service Act 2018, along with the Government Servants Leave Rules and other relevant laws and regulations, and, in light of the 2009 High Court directives and international policies, approve and implement specific amendments or additions to provisions related to gender equality, elimination of discrimination, prevention of sexual harassment, and maternity and paternity leave.

Total Reforms Being Tracked

16

08

Reform Proposed

The reform idea or commitment is publicly articulated.

04

Reform Initiated

Preliminary steps are taken (e.g., circulars or notices by relevant...

03

Legal and Policy Framework

The reform is codified in policy, law, or regulation.

00

Operationalisation

Institutional or administrative mechanisms are established for the reform delivery.

00

Action Implementation

Tangible actions showing visible progress or outcomes are taken.