Bangladeshi women rally against gender-based violence
Bangladeshi women call on the interim government to stand against rising extremism and support key reforms aimed at combating gender-based violence.
Thousands of Bangladeshi women marched through the streets of Dhaka on Friday, demanding that the country’s interim government publicly support a reform commission focused on addressing gender-based violence and inequality. The peaceful protest, attended by around 3,000 women from across the nation, was a powerful show of unity against rising religious conservatism and growing violence targeting women.
The demonstration, organized by the grassroots platform Narir Daake Moitree Jatra (Women’s Call for Unity March), called on the caretaker administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to take a firm stance in defense of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission — a body created in November 2024 to examine and modernize gender-related laws and policies.
Bangladeshi Women Demand Action and Protection
The Bangladeshi women who took to the streets included garment workers, tea plantation laborers, students, activists, and homemakers — all united by a shared demand for justice, equality, and safety. They carried placards, beat drums, and sang protest songs, transforming Dhaka’s central streets into a powerful expression of collective resistance and hope.
The Women’s Affairs Reform Commission has recommended a series of bold reforms, including the establishment of a uniform family code to replace current religious-based family laws. This would impact inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other critical areas currently governed by Muslim family law in Bangladesh.
However, these recommendations have drawn sharp criticism from Bangladesh’s coalition of hardline Islamist parties, who argue that the proposed reforms are “anti-Islamic” and threaten traditional values. The coalition has since launched a campaign demanding the dissolution of the commission, spreading what protestors describe as misinformation and inciting public unrest.
“The situation is worse than it was 16 years ago,” said Jannatul Ferdous, a 40-year-old laborer who joined the rally. “The hardliners have gained too much strength. Violence against women is rising, and we cannot let the progress we’ve fought for be rolled back.”
The protest comes amid rising tensions in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was forced from power by mass student-led demonstrations in August 2024. Hasina, known for her firm stance against Islamist extremism during her 15-year tenure, now lives in self-imposed exile in India.
Since her departure, Bangladesh has seen a resurgence of Islamist political movements, with growing influence over public discourse and policy. Activists argue that this resurgence has emboldened conservative elements, who are now attempting to dismantle reforms meant to protect vulnerable groups, especially women.
In a statement released during the protest, Narir Daake Moitree Jatra condemned the reactionary forces working against the commission. “The interim government must fulfill its constitutional role and take action against the reactionary group that is spreading propaganda and misinformation,” the statement read. “These groups are using religion as a shield to terrorize people, and we have been witnessing hate campaigns, threats, and organized violence.”
The Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, under the interim government’s mandate, was seen as a promising step toward ending systemic gender discrimination and violence. Its creation followed years of advocacy by human rights groups, who argue that current legal structures often fail to protect women, especially those from poor and rural backgrounds.
However, the future of the commission now hangs in the balance as religious hardliners attempt to pressure the Yunus administration into rolling back its agenda. The protesters are urging the interim government to not only protect the commission but to publicly endorse its mission and ensure its recommendations are implemented.
“This commission represents hope for thousands of women like me,” said a garment worker who joined the march. “We are tired of being ignored, abused, and silenced. We need laws that protect us, not ones that treat us as less than equal.”
The rally is being seen by many as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Bangladesh. With pressure mounting from both progressive and conservative forces, the actions taken by the interim government in the coming weeks could shape the nation’s trajectory on gender equality for years to come.
As the chants of Bangladeshi women echoed through Dhaka, one message was unmistakable: the fight for equality and safety is far from over, and the country’s women are ready to lead that fight.
Source- EWN
