The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association

A Profile in Partnership

The Asian University for Women is currently hosting the Women in Public Service Project Summer Institute, with support from a number of local and regional organizations. One of the key partners during the Institute is the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA). Rangita de Silva, the Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, arranged this partnership and the mentorships with the BNWLA lawyers. BNWLA contributed to one session during the Institute and arranged and led pivotal field visits to the legal aid center, one stop crisis center, and shelter home.

For over 30 years the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) has fought to create equal opportunities and equal rights for every woman and child in the country. The programs and service provisions of BNWLA are particularly targeted at the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of the country and are aimed at providing comprehensive legal service delivery programs, along with other preventive and protective supports, in establishing human rights and resisting violence against women and children.

During the AUW Summer Institute, BNWLA staff will lead a discussion on Bangladesh Domestic Violence Law. Advocates from BNWLA  include Tawhida Khondke, Director of BNWLA, Jamila Akhter, Project Coordinator of BNWLA, and Mitali Jahan, Program Manager of BNWLA.

Partners for the AUW Institute

Advocate Salma Ali, Bangladesh

Executive Director of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA)

Ms. Salma Ali has helped draft many gender-sensitive laws including the domestic violence law, anti-acid throwing law and the trafficking law in Bangladesh and has spear headed several ground breaking initiatives on anti- trafficking against women.

Advocate Fawzia Karim Firzoe, Bangladesh

Director of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BMWLA), Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangladesh 

BNWLA Lawyers Focused on Gender Equality Issues

Mentors for AUW Students in Bangladesh
Jusana Akter, Lawyer
Quazi Jannatun Naime Shimu, Lawyer
Jusana Akter, Lawyer
Quazi Jannatun Naime Shimu, Lawyer
Syeda Maria Ferhat, Lawyer
Nowrin Jalil, Lawyer
Shakila Farzana, Lawyer
Barriter Sadia Arman, Lawyer
Fahmida Akter Shirin, Lawyer
Jubida Pervin, Lawyer
Saila Sayeed, Lawyer
Lubna Mariam Sonia, Lawyer
Romana Hoque, Lawyer
Shahria Jahan, Lawyer
Raisin Jahan, Lawyer
Fahmida Akther, Lawyer
Zannatul Ferdous, Sr. staff Lawyer
Mitali Jahan, Lawyer & Program Manager
Ferdous Nigar, Lawyer
Samia Zinat Sharna, Student member
Zeenat Islam, Student member
Fabia Firoze, Student member
Rehana Sultana, Lawyer & Director
Towhida Khandker, Lawyer & Director
Tanzina Aziz, Lawyer & Director
Fawzia Karim Firoze, Lawyer & President
Bithika Hasan, Lawyer & Coordinator