The Penal Code lists kidnapping, wrongful confinement, trafficking, slavery, assault, battery, causing miscarriage, rape, acid throwing, and forced labour as crimes committed specifically against women. The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1980, amended as the Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Ordinance, 1982, prohibits dowry in all forms and makes it punishable by imprisonment.

The Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 1992, restrains indiscriminate divorce and polygamy.
 
The Family Courts Ordinance, 1985, provides for summary trial of offences regarding marriage, dower, maintenance and guardianship and custody of children.
 
The Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act provides penalties for detaining girls under 18 in a place where prostitution is carried out.
 
The Nari o Shishu Nirajaton Domon Ain 2000 (The Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000), has stringent provisions for crimes such as rape, trafficking, abduction, death caused by rape, gang rape or rape in police custody.

Bangladesh ratified the CEDAW in 1984 with reservations on Articles 2, 16.1 (9c). But women find little redress within the judicial system or such international agreements.

Apart from constitutional laws, there are General Laws or laws that are not directly governed by the Constitution. Personal or Family Laws fall under these and are mostly governed by the civil law.
 
Personal laws are not uniform and there are Muslim, Hindu, Christian and General Personal Laws – and all of which subject women to the same discrimination. See Pereira, Faustina (2002), The Fractured Scales: The Search for A Uniform Personal Code, Stree, Calcutta.