"As the allegations of women leaders against the reforms in the policy in 2004 are not substantial, there is no possibility of restoring the original policy," said Khurshid Zahan Haque, minister for Women and Children Affairs.

She however said a committee has been formed and a meeting will be held soon to discuss the new policy. If needed, it will be further reformed, he added.

The women leaders have rejected the changed policy claiming that fundamental changes have been brought to hinder women's empowerment in the country.

Vague terms have been used to make the policy complicated and to fish in the muddy water, they alleged.

The women leaders said there were words like 'equal rights' and 'equal participation' in the original policy, but these have been replaced by words like 'suitable', 'if necessary', and 'according to the constitution' in the reformed policy with an ulterior motive.

"Though the constitution envisages equal rights of male and female, there are inherent contradictions in it. Equality clause and religious sentiment both exist in our constitution," said Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) Sultana Kamal.

"From our experience we have seen that people and the government prefer religious sentiment to others. So 'according to the constitution' is a vague term that should not remain in the WDP," she added.

Though a long time has passed since the changes in policy, officials concerned were reluctant to tell anything about the changes. They only said they didn't know how the changes took place and who were involved with the process.

Even Chairperson of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha Masuda Hossain could not tell anything about the policy changes saying most probably these are yet to be finalised.

"If the policy was approved, I am sure it would have come to me. But I have not receive it," she said.

The paramount change in reformed policy includes omission of the provision for direct election to women's reserved seats in parliament by adding the word ' all necessary effective arrangements will be followed in the reserved seats by increasing them.'

In place of ensuring women's active and equal participation in all economic activities, the new policy said constitutional rights of women will be implemented.

The new version has omitted the word 'partnership' from resource, employment, market and business sectors.

The concept of equal sharing of economic power, right and opportunity has also been changed.

The provision for equal inheritance in resource, and equal opportunity and control over property, information, education has been changed in the new policy by omitting the word 'equal inheritance.'

The concept of appointing a large number of women 'in cabinet' has been replaced by 'at all level.'

The new policy also failed to provide de facto equality, and the exclusion of the provision 'inheritance of property' will also lead to the oppression of women.

Besides, a total of 30 percent women were scheduled to be recruited at policymaking level but the new policy spoke of increasing the present quota system.

The vague term on quota system in administration can be used according to the interest of different governments at different times, said Advocate Sultana Kamal.

The achievements of the women community in realising their rights will suffer serious setbacks as the reformed policy has withdrawn the provisions for their empowerment in politics, economy as well as social sector, she added.

'The government has cleverly initiated the new version and backtracked from the original policy. It is as if the rights of women depend on the will of the ruling party,' said President of Karmojibi Nari Shirin Akhtar.

But high officials of the government said reforms in National Women Development Policy do not bear any qualitative change and women's rights are not undermined.

They said all the changes are made in favour of the women community, not in their against.

A total of 17 women's rights organisations submitted a memorandum to the prime minister demanding cancellation of the policy and restoring the original one a few months ago.

Sources in the prime minister's office (PMO) said the memorandum has been sent to women affairs ministry and a reply would be given on the basis of its recommendation.

But the minister said she was not asked for making any recommendation.