Women working during Hifazat strike

Women were seen reaching their workplaces despite a daylong nationwide shutdown of the Hifazat-e-Islam on Monday.

The Hifazat have asked for curbs on women rights and opposed free mixing of sexes in public places .

Readymade garment workers, office-going women, scribes, doctors and teachers from the fair sex were seen on streets since morning. Mothers were also seen taking their children to school.

A women scribe said that the ‘barbarism’ of Hifazat-e-Islam was reflected in their demands and their opposition to freedom of women was immoral.

“That is why I am rejecting their inconsiderate demand and going to office. I have obtained higher education and have earned qualities to work for the country… It is not possible for them (Hifazat) to earn these qualities. I need to work for the development and progress of this nation and society.”

On Saturday, Hifazat-e-Islam organised a rally in Dhaka’s Motijheel area, where they raised demands for curbs on women rights.

Their other demands include removing the current ‘anti-Islam women’s acts’, the ‘godless education system’, prohibiting unrestrained public mixing of men and women, and banning attempts to set up monuments and building of statues across the country.

No women were allowed into their rally.

A woman scribe from ETV was assaulted when trying to cover the rally .Many other woman journalists were stopped.