OP-ED: Supporting the ones who supported us

The maintenance of parents being a moral obligation is also a legal obligation in Bangladesh, non-compliance of which is punishable by law. In 2013, an act named the “The Pita Mata Bharan Poshan Ain” was enacted in Bangladesh, with the primary purpose of ensuring that parents do not face any ignorance or deprivation from their children. According to ABM Shahjahan Akanda, it is an attempt to ensure that parents are not forced to live in old homes, away from their family and loved ones.

However, there are certain problems with the law that need amendment to make it more reasonable, effective, and feasible. The definition provided for father or mother in s.2 clearly excludes adoptive, unmarried, or step-parents, which in many cases indicate an injustice.

Furthermore, the definition of child includes both boys and girls, thereby putting equal responsibility on both genders while giving girls a lesser share than boys (in most religions) when it comes to inheritance.