Dhaka, Jan 18 (NationPress) Bangladesh's Law Advisor Asif Nazrul acknowledged on Sunday that the establishment of the rule of law represents the most significant challenge facing the nation. Nevertheless, he emphasized that considerable advancements have been achieved in this area, as reported by local media.

Nazrul warned that attaining enduring success would be arduous without genuine dedication and commitment from the government elected after the general elections scheduled for February 12, according to United News of Bangladesh.

He stated, "While some claim that no reforms have occurred, it is unprecedented to witness such a substantial level of reform in Bangladesh's history within such a brief period."

Asif Nazrul delivered these comments during a policy dialogue titled ‘Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law’ organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP (Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) auditorium in Dhaka.

In the lead-up to the elections, incidents of violence against women, girls, and religious minorities have surged, highlighting the interim government led by Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus's failure to safeguard the fundamental human rights of the populace.

Citing police statistics, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently indicated an increase in gender-based violence from January to June 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

"Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (Women's Council of Bangladesh or BMP), attributes this rise to heightened activity and rhetoric from religious factions aimed at restricting women's freedom of movement and societal participation. In May 2025, hardline religious groups protested against the interim government’s initiatives to enhance gender equality and women’s rights, demanding a cessation of activities they deemed 'anti-Islamic'. Since then, women and girls have faced verbal, physical, and digital harassment, further stifling their voices due to fear of violence," wrote Subhajit Saha, a Senior Coordinator in HRW's Women's Rights Division.

The general elections on February 12 will mark the first since the departure of a democratically elected government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The HRW report further detailed an uptick in violence against Hindu and ethnic minorities in recent months.

"In December, Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment worker, lost his life at the hands of a mob over alleged blasphemy. Rights organizations have documented at least 51 incidents of violence against Hindus, including 10 fatalities. Ethnic minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts continue to endure abuse from security forces following the revolution," wrote Saha.

Despite Bangladesh having previously seen two women Prime Ministers and significant female participation in the 2024 student-led protests, women still face substantial barriers to political involvement. In the forthcoming general elections, 30 out of the 51 political parties lack any female candidates. Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist political party and one of Bangladesh’s leading political entities, has not nominated a single woman among its 276 candidates," he added.

Terming it a "matter of shame," multiple reports have indicated that the February elections will feature the lowest-ever representation of women candidates in Bangladesh's electoral history.