The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Law and Religious Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Arif on Tuesday said the present government has not enacted or amended any legislation dealing with the Muslim inheritance law.

"The government also does not have the will to do so," he said while exchanging views with ulema (Islamic scholars) on the newly formulated Women Development Policy-2008 in the auditorium of Islamic Foundation in the city. "The Women Development Policy-2008 is not a legislation at all and its does not deal with inheritance laws.

It is just a document for discussions on how to protect women from repression and deception and on how to improve their conditions socially," the adviser said.

Taking part in the discussion, eminent Islamic scholars said confusions were created in the minds of public on the basis of misleading information on the Women Development Policy.

Had the government informed the people clearly about the policy earlier, there would have been no controversy, they said and opined that the clarification of the adviser would now dispel all confusions.

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Pesh Imam Maulana Mohammad Nuruddin, Former Islamic University vice-chancellor Prof Dr M Mustafizur Rahman, Maulana Kamaluddin Zafari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mufti Sayeed Ahmed, among others, took part in the discussion.

Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Religious Affairs Secretary Ataur Rahman were present on the occasion.

The law adviser said it is a matter of sorrow that there has been uproar over a matter that has not taken place in reality.

He blamed lack of information for this situation and said the government is going to enact right to information law to avoid such incidents.

If there was the right to information act, detailed information on the women policy would have been available to the people much earlier and there had been no scope for confusions.

He sought cooperation of the Islamic scholars to establish rights of women and save them from repression and deception.

If the society is strong enough to protest against injustice, no law would be required, he said.