International Conventions & Reports to Treaty Governing Bodies

Bangladesh acceded to the CEDAW in 1984 with a reservation relating to Article 2 regarding the elimination of discrimination against women and the Article 16(1)(c) regarding equality of rights in marriage and upon its dissolution; Bangladesh does not consider these provisions binding as they "conflict with the shari�a law based on (the) Holy Qur�an and Sunnah."

Bangladesh signed the CRC in 1990 and ratified the same year, with reservations to Articles 14(1) on children�s freedom of religion and 21 relating to adoption. The reservation to the latter states that the provision will apply subject to the existing laws and practices in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh acceded to the ICESCR in 1998 with a number of declarations. The interpretative declaration relating to Articles 2 and 3 of the Covenant states that equality of rights between men and women is to be implemented in so far as they agree with the Constitution of Bangladesh and, more specifically, subject to Bangladeshi state inheritance law.

Bangladesh acceded to the Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages in 1998 with reservations to Articles 1 and 2, stating that the treaty would be applied �in accordance with the Personal Laws of different religious communities of the country,� and allowing for a �dispensation as to age, for serious reasons, in the interest of the intending spouses.�