International Women’s Day: Calls for women’s safety countrywide 

People of all walks of life across the country took to streets today staging rallies and marches, protesting violence, oppression and discrimination against women and children, marking the International Women's Day.

Students, public representatives, rights organisations, and social and political organisations have demanded tougher measures to ensure women's safety in the face of incidents of rape, molestation and harassment of women and children.

A wave of protests erupted following the recent rape of an 8-year-old child in Magura and the recent incident of harassment of a female student at Dhaka University. 

Rokeya Hall students at Dhaka University held a torch procession, demanding justice for victims of violence against women and children, while students at Rajshahi University and Islamic University in Kushtia called for capital punishment for the Magura rapist.

Samajik Protirodh Committee – a platform of 67 women, human rights and development-based organisations – held a rally, cultural event, and gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday, putting forward a 14-point charter for ensuring women's safety and rights.

Speakers at the event urged the government to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of women by bringing those responsible for recent incidents of violence against women under the law.

The newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) held a protest rally in front of the National Museum in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday, where NCP Chief Organiser of North unit Sarjis Alam demanded safety and cyber security for women.

"The state is unable to provide security for women," Sarjis said, adding that law enforcement agencies must be active so that no one imposes their personal beliefs on others.

Samantha Sharmin, senior joint convener of the NCP, said, "The position of political parties towards women must be clarified. For this, we are looking forward to seeing the report of the commission formed for women." 

During the "Best Self-Reliant Women Award 2025" event at LGED Bhaban yesterday, Adviser for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said that there would be no gender-based discrimination in Bangladesh following the July uprising. 

"Women's presence at all levels would be guaranteed to ensure the success of the major reform programmes undertaken by the government," he said.

BNP leaders Ruhul Kabir Rizivi, Salahuddin Ahmed and Tarique Rahman also expressed concern over growing violence against women and demanded strict government action.

The International Women's Day Committee organised a special programme at the National Press Club to raise awareness about women's rights, empowerment, and gender equality.

The Women and Child Abuse Prevention Forum Chattogram and the International Women's Day 2025 Celebration Council-Chattogram jointly organised a human chain in front of Chattogram Press Club yesterday, demanding justice for child domestic worker rape cases and all incidents of child abuse. 

Unified resistance needed: Samajik Protirodh Committee

Speaking on the Central Shaheed Minar premises, Fauzia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, emphasised the withdrawal of reservations on two clauses of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty and the complete eradication of child marriage.

Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, highlighted the rising incidents of sexual violence against women in buses and criticised the lack of proper legal action against perpetrators.

She urged for a unified resistance movement against violence against women.

Shahida Parvin Shikha, general secretary of the National Women Workers' Trade Union Centre, demanded strict legal action against those involved in violence against women.

Kazi Gulshan Ara Dipa from the organisation, Karmojibi Nari, announced the 14-point demand of the Samajik Protirodh Committee, which include reforming discriminatory family laws to establish a unified family law, ensuring equal rights and co-ownership of property and assets for women, recognising unpaid domestic labour performed by women and incorporating it into GDP calculations, and guaranteeing equal participation of women at all levels of policymaking.

Every girl, woman deserves to feel empowered: Tarique

In a post on his verified Facebook account in observance of International Women's Day, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman said, "Young girls and women across Bangladesh deserve to feel empowered and supported by those around them. Every woman must enjoy the same dignity, security, and opportunity as any man."

Salahuddin for stricter measures for violence against women

At an event organised by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), BNP's student wing, at TSC of Dhaka University, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said violence against women and children in Bangladesh has increased at an alarming rate and urged the government to take tougher measures to tackle it.

"The role of women in the July uprising has been recognised by the United Nations, all media in Bangladesh, political parties, social forces, and human rights organisations," he said.

Extremism cannot be allowed: Rizvi

At a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "A person was seen stopping rickshaws to ask female students what dress they would wear at their university on the occasion of International Women's Day. This is a sign of extremism. This cannot happen."