Thousands Rally in Dhaka as Bangladeshi Women Demand Equality Amid Rising Anti-Feminist Backlash

May 16, 2025: Thousands of women’s rights activists gathered on Friday along Manik Mia Avenue near the Parliament building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, demanding equality and dignity in the face of a growing anti-feminist wave.

Organized under the banner “A March of Solidarity at the Call of Women” (Narira Dake Maitri Yatra), the rally aimed to protest recent attempts to undermine women’s rights in the name of religion. The demonstration was a direct response to the backlash triggered by a proposal from the interim government’s Women’s Reform Commission recommending the recognition of sex workers as laborers—a move that faced fierce opposition from hardline Islamist factions, who responded with derogatory rhetoric against women.

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Speakers at the rally condemned the regressive statements and reaffirmed their commitment to defending women’s rights. The protest was marked by spirited performances of song and dance, symbolizing resistance against discrimination and repression.

Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising in August last year, women’s rights initiatives have lost momentum. Hasina, who fled to India following the unrest, was replaced by an interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

One transgender activist at the event emphasized that the struggle for rights transcends gender, expressing solidarity with the broader fight for justice and equality in the country.

Renowned Bangladeshi author and women’s rights advocate Taslima Nasreen also weighed in with sharp criticism of the interim government. She expressed concern over what she described as growing lawlessness, including theft, violence, rape, and rising Islamic extremism.

“This government is illegal and has no right to run the country,” Nasreen stated, calling for immediate elections and a return to democratic governance. She further claimed that the surge in Islamic terrorism is targeting not only women but also supporters of the ousted Awami League government.

Nasreen highlighted the broader implications of the current crisis: “Not just women, but the entire country is under attack—this is a form of Islamic terrorism that is spreading fear and silencing voices, especially those who support secularism, women’s rights, and freedom of speech.”

The rally reflected growing public frustration with both political instability and religious extremism, as women and marginalized groups continue to fight for their rightful place in society.