AG calls for firm political will to enact anti-discrimination law

Attorney General (AG) Md Asaduzzaman has urged Bangladesh's political parties to make a clear and firm public commitment to enacting a strong and effective anti-discrimination act, saying such a commitment should be a prerequisite to gaining public confidence and votes, reports UNB.

Speaking as chief guest at a civic dialogue at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in the capital on Saturday, The AG cautioned that a weak or ambiguous legal framework would fail to ensure genuine justice and effective redress.

"Political parties will not get our votes unless they commit to enacting this Act," Asaduzzaman emphasised.

"We need a strong Act, as a vague one cannot provide remedy. We must compel the Law Commission and the Law Ministry to act accordingly."

The event, titled 'Towards a Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act', was organised by the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Citizen's Initiative (Nagorik Uddyog), with support from the UNDP and the Swiss Embassy.

The discussion brought together a diverse group of political leaders, legal experts and rights advocates, including Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, BLAST Executive Director Barrister Sara Hossain, who presented the keynote paper, and economist Dr SR Osmani.