Year
2025
Reform Domain
Women
Sub Domain
Women's laws and rights in public spaces
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 the following similar pledges: “Strict legal measures to end gender-based and online violence, hatred, and bullying” and “Enforcing exemplary punishments for rape and female abuse.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
The interim government passed the draft ordinance titled, ‘Workplace and Educational Institutions Sexual Harassment Prevention Ordinance, 2026’ on January 29, 2026. It defines sexual harassment broadly to include all forms of unwanted and degrading physical, verbal, non-verbal and online conduct.
Observation
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During the tenure of the Interim Government, the Council of Advisers approved the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2026 on 29 January 2026. However, it was not promulgated as an ordinance by the President. As a result, no further action was taken on it.
Subsequently, on 29 June 2026, the Minister of Women and Children Affairs informed Parliament that initiatives were under way to enact the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Act, 2026. This indicates that the elected government has begun reconsidering the proposed legal framework. However, the reviewed evidence does not confirm that a revised bill has been finalised or that it will be formally introduced in the next parliamentary session.
Resources