of law. In a PIL case of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust vs. Govt. of Bangladesh2the Court declared that the imposition of extra-judicial punishment in the name of Sharia/Fatwa is illegal and without lawful authority. The court also issued the directions that the persons responsible for imposition of extra-judicial punishments shall be held responsible under the relevant sections of the Penal Code and other laws of law applicable in the regard. In similar vein, in the case of Md. SalauddinDolon vs. Govt. of Bangladesh3, the High Court Division declared that imposition of dress code on women by the government official such as veil or purdah is a violation of women’s rights. 16. Sexual harassment of women what is popularly known as 'eve teasing' has emerged most pressing social problem in Bangladesh. In recent years, ‘eve teasing’ resulted in several suicides by the victim girls, killing of their relatives or other people who try to protect the victims from any attempt by the perpetrators of such menace. In the case of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) vs. Government of Bangladesh4, the court recommended for incorporation of Sexual Harassment as a new offence in the Suppression of Oppression of Women and Children Act, 2000. Domestic workers are most disadvantaged and deprived segments of society in Bangladesh. In particular, child and female domestic workers are often abused and subjected to torture and other forms of inhuman treatment. In the case of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) vs. Govt. of Bangladesh,5the government is directed to take immediate steps to prohibit employment of children up to the age of 12 from any type of employment, including employment in the domestic sector and to include domestic workers within the definition of “worker” in the Labour Act, 2006. Sexual harassment of female students at educational institutions or workplaces is another prevalent form of gender-based abuse and violence in Bangladesh. But the existing laws of Bangladesh do not define the term ‘sexual harassment’. In the case of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) vs. Government of Bangladesh and Others6, the High Court Division found that there is no virtually any law to prevent and punish acts and behaviour known as sexual harassment of women. The court observed that protection from sexual harassment and right to education and work with dignity is universally recognised as basic human rights. The Directives provide that it shall be the duty of the employers and other responsible persons in work places, and the authorities of all educational institutions to maintain an effective mechanism to prevent or deter the commission of offences of sexual abuse and harassment, and to provide effective measures for prosecution of the offences of sexual harassment. In Bangladesh, women living in poverty, in both rural and urban areas, are facing problems in access to justice due to various constraints such as discriminatory attitude, legal and institutional 2 DLR (HCD) (2010). Writ Petition N0. 4495 of 2009. 4 Writ petition no. 8769 of 2010. 5 Writ petition no. 3598 of 2010. 6 14 BLC (HCD) (2009) 694. 3 8