Shirin Parvin Haque, head of the Women`s Affairs Reform Commission, has announced a set of bold proposals, including direct election for parliamentary seats reserved for women and increasing the number of seats to 600.

Under the new recommendation, each constituency would have two seats—one general and one reserved for women—with both elected through direct voting.

She revealed the recommendations at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka on Saturday, April 19. The press conference followed the commission’s submission of its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Key recommendations proposed for implementation during the interim government`s tenure include:

Eliminating all forms of discrimination in public and family laws; recognising basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, education, healthcare, and employment as enforceable fundamental rights in the Constitution, with a roadmap for gradual implementation, ; abolishing the death penalty, in alignment with the constitutional guarantee of the right to life; and establishing an independent, permanent Women’s Affairs Commission tasked with monitoring, supervising, and ensuring protection against all violations of women`s rights.

“These reforms aim to build an inclusive legal and institutional framework that upholds the dignity, equality, and rights of all women in Bangladesh,” said Shirin Parvin Haque.