The Advisory Council has approved two major ordinances aimed at protecting women and children: the Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2026 and the Prevention of Domestic Violence Ordinance, 2026.
Both take immediate effect.
The announcement followed a meeting on Thursday at the office of the Chief Adviser, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The new sexual harassment ordinance seeks to ensure a safe, dignified, and discrimination-free environment for all individuals in workplaces and educational institutions, regardless of religion, race, community, gender, gender identity, or place of birth.
A key expansion in the ordinance is the explicit inclusion of harassment conducted through social media, email, messaging platforms, or other digital technologies. It provides a comprehensive definition of sexual harassment, covering physical, verbal, non-verbal, digital, and online conduct, as well as all unwanted and degrading gender-based behavior.
The law mandates the creation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in all workplaces and educational institutions. These committees will receive complaints, conduct investigations, protect complainants, and recommend disciplinary measures ranging from reprimands to demotion, termination, or expulsion. For unorganized sectors where ICCs cannot be set up, local complaints committees will be formed through district commissioners and upazila executive officers. National, district, and upazila-level monitoring committees will oversee implementation.
The ordinance adopts a survivor-centric approach, ensuring safety, confidentiality, and dignity, while providing safeguards against false complaints. A special fund will support victims with financial aid, rehabilitation, counseling, legal assistance, and awareness programs.
The Prevention of Domestic Violence Ordinance, 2026 aims to protect families and provide prompt protection, shelter, medical care, legal aid, and rehabilitation for women and children. Replacing the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, it broadens the definition of domestic violence to include physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse, including digital harassment.
Key protective measures include the right to reside in a shared household, rapid protection orders, residence orders to prevent eviction or provide alternative housing, compensation and maintenance orders, and temporary custody of children. Interim orders and counseling during proceedings are provided, with most applications targeted for resolution within 60 working days. Violations are punishable by imprisonment or fines, and officials can be held accountable for negligence.
The government said both ordinances represent a major step toward ensuring safety, justice, and dignity in workplaces, educational institutions, and families, reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and domestic violence.
