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Women commissioners urge govt to uphold HC verdict

The verdict came after 10 women commissioners from reserved seats of Khulna City Corporation filed a writ petition last year, challenging the LGRD circular that did not permit women commissioners to take part in census or issue nationality certificates or reference letters

SULTANA RAHMAN
Thirty women commissioners elected on reserved seats are urging the government not to appeal against the High Court verdict on non-discrimination between them and their male counterparts.
"Once a woman is elected as ward commissioner, there is should not be discrimination in authority between commissioners from general and reserved seats," said Kazi Nasima Mannan, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) commissioner. "We are really happy with the High Court verdict," she added on a cheerful note.
Earlier, the local government and rural development (LGRD) ministry in a circular did not allow
women commissioners to take part in census and issuing certificates.
"The government put us on the field under the guise of women's empowerment. But now they make anti-women rules," Nasima alleged. "The circular disallowing us from issuing birth certificates and similar jobs is simply an insult," she added.
The High Court on August 16 asked the government not to discriminate women ward commissioners against their male counterparts in delegation and execution of authority and annulled a ministerial circular calling it contrary to the constitution.
However, Attorney General AF Hassan Ariff who moved for the government told the media that the government would take a decision to appeal against the verdict on receiving a certified copy of the court order.
The verdict came after 10 women commissioners from reserved seats of Khulna City Corporation filed a writ petition last year, challenging the LGRD circular that did not permit women commissioners to take part in census or issuing nationality certificates or reference letters.
"Although the ward commissioners from Khulna filed the writ against the government's discriminatory decision, but the 30 commissioners of DCC are always with them," said Nasima, commissioner of ward No. 45 in Dhaka.
Justices ABM Khairul Haque and Miftah Uddin Ahmed asked
the authorities to comply with the constitution and city corporation ordinances in assigning work and delegating authority to women commissioners.
"We hope the government will realise when it discriminates females against males, how we can expect respect from society?" said Mamtaz Choudhury Tutu, DCC commissioner of ward No. 24.
Abdul Matin Khasru, filing lawyer of the writ petition, said the verdict would apply to the six city corporations and in principle, other local government bodies as well. Barrister Sara Hossain and Barrister Tanjib-Ul Alam also moved for the petitioners.
The remuneration of reserved seat commissioners is less than that of general seat commissioners for meetings attended.
The petitioners said the circular violated constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights to equality and gender, nondiscrimination and the right to be treated in line with the law.
As the DCC is a corporate body, the government cannot interfere with its powers and functions except for what is permitted by law, the court said.
Dr Kamal Hossain was requested by the court to make submissions on some constitutional questions as a friend of court, called amicus curiae in legal jargon.
The Awami League government in 1999, amending the local government laws, introduced reserved seats to women in the
local government bodies in an effort to politically empower them.
The new provision states that every reserved seat comprises three wards in each Union Parishad, Paurashabha and City Corporation and women are elected representatives.
"Being elected for over two years, we would lose our credibility and popularity if the DCC does not allow to work for our voters. So far, we have not done anything important. This is disappointing," said Shireen Rukhsana, DCC ward commissioner from a reserved seat.