"When Men Fall Short, the Numbers Favor Women"

In Bangladesh, it’s hardly surprising that even the slightest proposal advocating for women’s equal rights to property inheritance sparks immediate backlash. This reaction has become all too familiar—echoing the response to the 2011 National Women Development Policy and again following the Women Affairs Reform Commission's report last month.

On both occasions, resistance came from certain religious groups who claim that any push for equal inheritance rights contradicts Islamic teachings and customs. I won’t delve into the harsh and disrespectful language used by some protesters who opposed the Commission’s report, but they must understand that labeling respected women as “whores” does not align with the principles of Islam.

In researching the views of some religious leaders who interpret Islamic teachings publicly, I watched several videos where they all made a similar argument: Women should inherit less than men because men bear the financial responsibility. They claim that before marriage, a woman’s father and brothers provide for her, and after marriage, it’s the husband and sons who take on the financial burden. Therefore, they argue, it is only fair that women receive a smaller share of inheritance.

But the statistics tell a different story.

In 2013, during a major backlash against women’s rights, 11% of Bangladeshi households were led by women, meaning that more than one in ten households had women shouldering the primary financial responsibility. Today, that number has risen to nearly 18%, disproving the claim that men are the sole providers in families.

Historically, even the earliest followers of Islam knew of strong, independent women like Khadija, who was a successful merchant, helped the poor, and provided financial support to her relatives. In modern Bangladesh, countless women are active in the workforce, contributing to the economy and supporting their families financially.

Even if we ignore the unpaid domestic work they do, millions of women participate in the national workforce every day, helping to generate income and wealth for their families.

If we continue to deny women their rightful inheritance, why should they be expected to contribute to the wealth in the first place?

Over 86% of Bangladesh’s export earnings come from the ready-made garment industry, which depends heavily on female workers. Thanks to progressive policies, women now play key roles across every sector— from agriculture and remittances in the foreign labor market to manufacturing and corporate leadership.

Inheritance laws are deeply connected to personal religious beliefs, rooted in ancient texts that gave women few rights. But in today’s world, when women share equal responsibilities in both the family and society, it is unacceptable to continue denying them the ability to build assets and prosper due to narrow, misguided interpretations of religious texts.

While many religions have historically had unequal inheritance practices, none forbid or prevent property owners from distributing their wealth equally among heirs.

So, how can anyone reasonably argue that allowing a fair, civil inheritance system—one that offers the freedom to divide property equally—goes against religious principles?

Ignoring the real barriers that women face in accessing land ownership only perpetuates their economic disadvantage. Women without land are seen as unworthy of credit or financing, which traps them in a cycle of poverty. Without inheritance, they have no means to create wealth.

This isn't just a personal loss for these women; it’s a national loss.