EVERY morning, she tied her hair into a perfect bun, pinned on a brooch and stepped out with a smile. In schools and courtrooms, she spoke for the voiceless — teaching rights, opposing injustice and encouraging young women. But at home, her voice remained quieter. She is just one among countless women silently enduring life in patriarchal households.
Marital families often pressure women to prioritise their homes and children over their careers. Society reinforces the idea that women should be obedient rather than aspirational by stigmatising independent, unmarried, or divorced women — criticisms that men rarely encounter. Even those who are supported still bear the impact of sacrifices made by previous generations, which fuels their desire for independence despite ongoing challenges.
Even in progressive households, patriarchal control lingers through phrases like ‘don’t shame the family,’ where emotional abuse is veiled as sacrifice. True change requires more than legal reform; it demands challenging family norms through solidarity, open conversation and rethinking tradition.
Some women have progressed in their careers with the help of shared household responsibilities, though this remains rare. Most support comes from husbands (40 per cent) and mothers (30 per cent), yet traditional gender roles continue to shape these dynamics. Such roles, enforced by husbands and families, restrict women’s confidence, independence and decision-making, hindering their participation and advancement in the workforce. According to HIES 2022, Bangladeshi women’s labour force participation remains far lower than men’s (42.5 per cent vs 81.3 per cent), while their unemployment rate is higher (5.9 per cent vs 2.8 per cent).
The term ‘Equality before the law’ in Article 27 of the constitution protects all citizens of the state, echoing Articles 6 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 16 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Constitution clearly states that ‘the state shall not discriminate against any person solely on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.’ Here, the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are often used interchangeably. The Government of Bangladesh has made efforts to uphold this principle, advocating for legal equality between men and women.
Article 32 protects the right to life and personal liberty — a right that includes safeguarding women’s mental well-being.
In Bangladesh, while there is no standalone law specifically addressing the mental torture of women, certain provisions under the ‘Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Domon Ain, 2000’ offer partial protection. Section 11(c) of the Act criminalises abetment of suicide or causing mental anguish to women, particularly through cruelty such as dowry demands or persistent emotional abuse in the marital home. However, this clause is largely reactive, requiring proof of catastrophic outcomes like suicide or serious psychological breakdown. As a result, many women enduring long-term emotional and psychological abuse in patriarchal households remain defenceless and unheard, especially in the absence of physical violence. Legal reform is urgently needed to recognise mental and emotional abuse as distinct offences punishable under domestic violence laws.
The ‘Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010’ in Bangladesh mainly addresses physical abuse, offering limited recourse for victims of emotional or psychological harm. Coercive control, narcissistic manipulation, or financial restriction rarely meet the threshold for legal action unless extreme or well-documented. This legal blind spot leaves many women unprotected, particularly those trying to preserve family peace or lacking the financial independence to leave abusive situations. The absence of terms such as ‘emotional imprisonment’ or ‘gaslighting’ in legal definitions means many suffer silently without being formally recognised as victims.
The ‘Bangladesh Labour Law 2006’ (amended in 2013) mandates that offices or factories employing 40 or more women must provide one or more childcare rooms. These facilities must include adequate lighting, ventilation, maintenance, and trained female staff to care for the children. Unfortunately, such provisions are almost entirely absent in government offices and ministries, let alone in the RMG, IT, education, banking and private sectors where women are heavily represented. At present, only a handful of workplaces offer on-site daycare facilities. Where available, such services support work-life balance and are shown to reduce absenteeism.
Patriarchal norms continue to impede women’s career advancement — especially within marriage and the family — despite increasing educational attainment and workforce participation. Although women shoulder most household duties, husbands often influence their work choices and control their income, severely limiting their professional opportunities.
To address domestic and mental abuse against women in Bangladesh, legal reform must explicitly criminalise psychological, emotional, and verbal abuse under the Domestic Violence Act, while amending the ‘Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Domon Ain’ to recognise mental cruelty as a standalone offence. Strengthening access to One-Stop Crisis Centres, legal aid, shelter and mental health support is vital. Gender sensitisation in schools, community-based counselling, and public awareness campaigns should aim to challenge harmful social norms and encourage shared responsibilities.
Workplace policies also require urgent reform. Mandating childcare facilities across all sectors will not only promote work-life balance but also reduce absenteeism. Engaging men and elders as allies, implementing flexible employment policies and expanding financial literacy and social protection for women are key to promoting autonomy and economic empowerment. These combined measures are crucial for ensuring women’s dignity, freedom from abuse and full participation in family and society.
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Era Sharmila Khan is an apprentice lawyer at the Dhaka Judge Court.
