Political risks of proposed move to amend inheritance law

Verses in the Holy Quran have clearly stated the inheritance rights of men and women. On the occasion of the observance of the International Women's Day, it was stated that the present government is considering amending the Muslim inheritance law to permit equal share to men and women. This will require a critical scrutiny whether the introduction of any such law to reflect gender parity under the women's development policy, conforms to the commandments of the Holy Quran. If it is does not, then will it be provided on the part of the government to go for enactment of a new law that have strong reasons to hurt the overwhelming majority of the country's population? The issue will have some serious political consequences, too so the government needs to give serious thought to this. In the event of enactment of a new piece of legislation replacing the existing inheritance law, the critics of the government will have a fertile opportunity to raise questions over its powers to offend against not only Bangladesh's own Muslims but also that of the entire Muslim world. Already some Islamist political forces have declared a hartal programme to protest the suggestion made on the International Women's Day. This is probably the tip of the iceberg because others for political or their reasons are likely to join in, powerfully in the protests. Abul Bashar Shantinagar Dhaka.