Women constitute nearly half of the population in Bangladesh, but there is lack of women representation in all respect. Although each Union Parishad in the country has 3 female members but they cannot work properly because of gender discrimination. They are deprived of getting sufficient salary. BLAST has offered legal aid for women free of cost. Besides, this organization is working for the empowerment of women. BLAST is working in different ways in this regard including PIL case and Advocacy. These who come to BLAST for legal aid are mostly the helpless and destitute women from grass root level. The female UP members observe the suffering of these poor and destitute women closely pay important roles comparing to their male fellow colleagues members.
BLAST has taken the opportunity to communicate deprives and destitute women through the female UP members. In this context, BLAST has organized Experienced sharing meeting on ``Prevention of Violence against women and Establish Access to Justice: Role of Female UP member’’ on March 19, 2006 in Tangail and on March 30, 2006 in Pabna. Some recommendations were adopted in the workshop which includes:
a) Remuneration of female UP member should be equal to that of the male members.
b) Presence of UP female members must be made compulsory in Shalish Parishad.