Nation must stand together to protect women and children, says CA Yunus

The chief advisor condemns the "horrific attacks" on women in recent weeks as being contrary to the vision of a "new Bangladesh"

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has urged citizens to remain vigilant to ensure the safety of women and children, emphasising the importance of social unity to protect vulnerable groups from oppression.

Speaking at an event organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at Dhaka's Osmani Memorial Auditorium to mark International Women's Day on Saturday, Yunus paid tribute to the pivotal role played by women in the 1971 Liberation War, alongside martyrs and freedom fighters.

He also acknowledged those who suffered during the July Uprising, highlighting the courage of women in student and labour movements.

"Our women stood like mountains in the face of the fascist forces' deadly weapons," he said.

Expressing deep concern over the "horrific attacks" on women in recent weeks, Yunus condemned such acts as being contrary to the vision of a "new Bangladesh".

Stressing the need to combat violence against women through legal assistance and preventive measures, he said, "Preventing violence against women is one of the government's top priorities. Often, women who are victims of violence don't know where to report it. To address this, a hotline has been set up for women to report complaints. We are also working on updating the Family Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, and formulating the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Act, 2025. We have established a reform commission on women's affairs, which will provide its recommendations."

He reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring gender equality, saying: "In this new Bangladesh, we are dedicated to ensuring equal rights for women and men. We will use all our power to establish these rights."

Recognising women's contributions to Bangladesh’s progress, he said: "Our country's women are making their mark by displaying tremendous courage in their respective fields. They are contributing to the advancement of politics, economics and national development despite facing numerous obstacles."

He outlined several of the interim government’s initiatives to empower women, including financial assistance for underprivileged mothers, training programmes to enhance women's skills, microfinance opportunities, and hostels and daycare centres for working women.

Highlighting the success of the ‘Youth Festival 2025’, Yunus pointed to the strong participation of women and the enthusiastic support from men for gender equality.

"The presence of thousands of spectators proves that men also support the establishment of women's rights and greater participation in Bangladesh society," he said.

Yunus called on the nation to stand against forces that seek to undermine women's progress, stressing that respect and support for women were essential for building a fair and just society.

"To prevent violence and abuse against women and to create a just and beautiful Bangladesh, we must all stand together in support of women," he said.