On 14th May 2009, Honorable Justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Qamrul Islam Siddiquee formed a joint bench which declared a judgment to prevent sexual abuse of women at the office, educational institution and all types of governmental, non-governmental, semi-governmental and any other organization.
     
 Due to a realization of the necessity of preventive measures and due to an absence of any specific and direct laws or guidelines, Salma Ali, on behalf of BNWLA, filed a public interest litigation, number 5916/2008, at the High Court on the 7th of August 2008, asking for a guideline to prevent sexual harassment and abuse in universities and workplaces.
    
 In the context of the above public interest litigation (PIL), Honorable Judges Syed Mahmud Hossain and Farid Ahmed, in the joint bench, passed a rule compelling the respondents to provide reasons within a week to justify why new laws should not be made to prevent sexual harassment at the workplaces and educational institutes. On 18th August 2008, the Honorable High Court Bench instructed all governmental, non-governmental, semi-governmental offices and all educational institutions to specially report why there should be no laws to prevent sexual harassments to women and which measures they have currently taken to prevent this crime.
The names of the 19 respondents are given below-

1. Government of Bangladesh represented by the Cabinet Secretary of Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

2. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

3. Ministry of Children and Women Affairs, represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

4. Ministry of Education, represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

5. Ministry of Labor, represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

6. Chairman, University Grant Commission, Sher-e-Bangla, Agargaon, Dhaka.

7. Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Dhaka

8. Vice Chancellor of Jahangir Nagar University, Dhaka

9. The University of Dhaka represented by the Registrar of the Dhaka University

10. The Jahangirnagar University of Jahangirnagar represented by the Registrar of Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka.

11. The University Grant Commission, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka represented by the Chairman of the University Grant Commission

12. Bangladesh Garments Manufacturing Employees Association, BGMEA, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka represented by the Secretary and President of BGMEA.

13. Bangladesh Knit Manufacturing Employer Association, BKMEA, represented by the Secretary and President of BKMEA.

14. The Bangladesh Bar Council represented by the Chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council, Ramna, Dhaka.

15. The Bangladesh Police, represented by the Inspector General Police, Police Head Quarter, Dhaka.

16. The Ministry of Communication represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Bangladesh.

17. The Ministry of Information represented by the Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

18. Bangladesh Television represented by the Director General, Bangladesh Television, Rampura, Dhaka.

19. The National University represented by the Registrar of National University, Gazipur.

     After a few consecutive hearings, the Honorable High Court declared the judgment. This Honorable High Court directive aimed to create a shield to protect all women and young girls from sexual harassment and abuse.

     On behalf of BNWLA, this case was administered by the President Adv. Fawzia Karim Firoze, President of BNWLA, who was assisted by Advocates Sima Johur and Rebecca Sultana. The amicus curie in this case, to assist in enriching the High Court, was -  Former Attorney General Mahmudul Islam. This fundamental judgment has been widely acclaimed in the media and many civil society members as a milestone in ensuring safety and equality of women at the workplaces and educational institutions.