No denying women rights

Women groups in Bangladesh are holding a rally in the National Press Club to oppose Hifazat-e Islam’s 13-point charter of demands that seeks to deny gender equality in Bangladesh.

The two main targets of the radical Islamist group are secularism and gender equality, which is why they demand scrapping of the national women policy and the punishment for those they describe as 'atheist bloggers.'

The rally has kicked off at 3:00pm in front of National Press Club, with hundreds of women turning up.

It began with the singing of the national anthem. That followed songs by Banglaedesh's Udichi Shilpi Gosthi.

It was originally scheduled for Apr 27 but was postponed twice - first due to the Rana Plaza collapse and then on account of strikes by Opposition parties.

“We want a non-communal, democratic Bangladesh that can ensure equality of men and women,” is the slogan of the rally.

The speakers of the rally called for protection of rights of all citizens, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and religion. They said fundamentalist forces must be checked and religion-driven politics banned in the country.

Hifazat-e Islam appeared just when the war crimes trials were entering the decisive stage.

They are trying to victimise women and remove them from the path of progress, the speakers said.

Prominent figures like Liberation War researcher Rokeya Kabir, human rights activist Sultana Kamal, women’s rights activists Khushi Kabir, Shirin Akhter, Mita Haque and indigenous female leader Rebecca Soren addressed the protest rally chaired by feminist leader Ayesha Khanom.

“The plots to rob women of their human rights for the sake of politics must be stopped. Legal action must be taken against the organisations and individuals who are involved in it," said the declaration issued at the end of the rally.

The protesters also demanded that ‘CDO certificate’ be fully implemented for ensuring equality of men and women.

The rally was spontaneously joined by men and women from all walks of life.

The organisers had urged men and women to join their cause against the demands of the radical Hifazat-e Islam.

Hifazat-e Islam's anti-women tirade came in for severe criticism from female rights activists.

Hifazat demands scrapping of the National Women’s Development Act and even asked for immediate prohibition of public mixing of men and women.