Latest news with #ShiekhHasina
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BD women rally against gender-based violence
Around 3,000 women rallied Friday in Bangladesh for the country's interim government to openly support a commission tasked with addressing gender-based violence. The Women's Affairs Reform Commission was set up by the caretaker government of Nobel Peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus in November as part of its efforts to reform systems established during the iron-fisted rule of former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina. Bangladesh's influential coalition of hardline Islamist parties has called for the commission to be abolished, saying the reforms it suggested were against Islamist ideology. Jannatul Ferdous, a 40-year-old labourer, who took part in the rally, told AFP violence against women had been increasing. "The situation is worse than it was 16 years ago. The (Islamist) hardliners have gained too much strength," she said.
CNA
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Bangladeshi women rally against gender-based violence
DHAKA: Around 3,000 women rallied on Friday (May 16) in Bangladesh for the country's interim government to openly support a commission tasked with addressing gender-based violence. The Women's Affairs Reform Commission was set up by the caretaker government of Nobel Peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus in November as part of its efforts to reform systems established during the iron-fisted rule of former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina. Bangladesh's influential coalition of hardline Islamist parties has called for the commission to be abolished, saying the reforms it suggested were against Islamist ideology. Jannatul Ferdous, a 40-year-old labourer, who took part in the rally, told AFP violence against women had been increasing. "The situation is worse than it was 16 years ago. The (Islamist) hardliners have gained too much strength," she said. The commission has recommended a uniform family code instead of Muslim family law, which governs inheritance, marriage, divorce and other issues. The protest was organised in the capital Dhaka by 'Narir Daake Moitree Jatra', a women's movement pressing for equal rights. "The interim government must fulfil its constitutional role and take action against the reactionary group that is spreading propaganda and misinformation against the reform commission," the women's platform said in a statement. "The reactionary group is using religion as a shield to terrorise people," it said. "We have been witnessing hate campaigns, threats and organised violence. We would like to know who the government is aligning with." Hasina was overthrown by student-led mass protests in August 2024 and currently lives in self-imposed exile in India. Her government was blamed for extensive human rights abuses, and she took a tough stand against Islamist movements during her 15-year rule. Bangladesh has seen a surge of open support for Islamist groups since her ouster. The protesters, including tea and garment workers, marched with placards, beat drums and sang protest songs.
Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Hardliners seek abolition of BD women commission
Bangladesh's influential coalition has demanded the abolition of a government women's commission, a further indication of how hardline, religiously fuelled activism is strengthening after years of suppression. The women's commission is part of efforts to reform systems installed during the iron-fisted rule of Shiekh Hasina, who was overthrown by student-led mass protests in August 2024. Hefazat-e-Islam, a platform of religious seminaries, wants the cancellation of the Women's Affairs Reforms Commission, set up by the caretaker government of Nobel Peace prize winner Mohammed Yunus. Azizul Haque Islamabadi, a senior Hefazat-e-Islam leader, said the group opposed the commission's recommendation for ending discriminatory provisions against women. "Ensuring equality is a Western ideology," Islamabadi told AFP. "The commission recommended a uniform family code instead of Muslim family law, which governs inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other issues." Jamaat-E-Islami, the largest Islamist political party, also demanded the immediate cancellation of the recommendations. "Recommending initiatives to ensure equality between men and women is a malicious effort to distort Islamic ideology," Mia Golam Parwar, secretary general of Jamaat, said in a statement. Yunus said after the commission submitted its recommendations on April 19 that "women all over the world are looking at us". Hasina's government was blamed for extensive human rights abuses and she took a tough stand against Islamist movements during her 15-year rule. She is in exile in India, refusing to return to Dhaka to face charges of crimes against humanity for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that toppled her government.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bangladesh's Islamists seek abolition of women's commission
Bangladesh's influential Islamist coalition has demanded the abolition of a government Women's Commission, a further indication of how hardline, religiously fuelled activism is strengthening after years of suppression. The Women's Commission is part of efforts to reform systems installed during the iron-fisted rule of Shiekh Hasina, who was overthrown by student-led mass protests in August 2024. Hefazat-e-Islam, a platform of religious seminaries, wants the cancellation of the Women's Affairs Reforms Commission, set up by the caretaker government of Nobel Peace prize winner Mohammed Yunus. Azizul Haque Islamabadi, a senior Hefazat-e-Islam leader, said the group opposed the commission's recommendation for ending discriminatory provisions against women. "Ensuring equality is a Western ideology," Mr. Islamabadi told AFP. "The commission recommended a uniform family code instead of Muslim family law, which governs inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other issues." Jamaat-E-Islami, the largest Islamist political party, also demanded the immediate cancellation of the recommendations. "Recommending initiatives to ensure equality between men and women is a malicious effort to distort Islamic ideology," Mia Golam Parwar, secretary general of Jamaat, said in a statement. Mr. Yunus said after the commission submitted its recommendations on April 19 that "women all over the world are looking at us". Hasina's government was blamed for extensive human rights abuses and she took a tough stand against Islamist movements during her 15-year rule. She is in exile in India, refusing to return to Dhaka to face charges of crimes against humanity for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that toppled her government. Bangladesh has seen a surge of open support for Islamist groups since her ouster. Women, in particular, have expressed concern since the cancellation of several women's football matches, the vandalising of Sufi shrines and the blocking of several cultural events deemed "anti-Islamic". However, Shirin Parvin Haque, the head of the commission, said they were determined to press ahead. "Let them speak their minds," Haque told AFP. "We have proposed recommendations we believe are best for upholding women's rights, we will stick to that," she said.
