Five-member committee formed to ensure gender equity in Bangladesh Olympic Association

A five-member committee has been formed to ensure gender equity in the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), with Barrister Sarwat Siraj, vice-president of the organisation and president of Bangladesh Mahila Krira Sangstha, appointed as its chairman.

Bangladesh Police DIG Taptun Nasreen has been made the member secretary of the committee, while Bangladesh Mahila Krira Sangstha General Secretary Firoza Karim Nelly, BOA Athletes Commission Chairman Farhad Jasmine Litty and Additional DIG Jannat Ara have been named as members.

According to a decision signed by BOA Director General Brigadier General (retd) ABM Shefaul Kabir, the committee members have been requested to submit their written opinions to the BOA office by 25 June.

The committee was formed following an earlier initiative by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on 2 June to remove discrimination against women athletes, ensure their safety and strengthen their rights and empowerment in the country's sports sector.

Barrister Sarwat Siraj is also a member of the ministry-formed committee. Besides serving as president of Bangladesh Mahila Krira Sangstha and vice-president of BOA, she is a senior lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

The newly formed committee will work on policy recommendations to ensure gender equality in sports, protect the rights of women athletes and organisers, and increase women's participation and empowerment in the sector.

Barrister Sarwat Siraj expressed hope that the committee would contribute to promoting equal rights and opportunities for women in Bangladesh's sports arena and make the country's Olympic movement more inclusive.