Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka on Wednesday called for immediate action to prevent violence against women and ensure their safety, dignity and meaningful participation in political decision-making.
At the seminar titled “The July Movement and Women’s Rights”, held at the National Press Club auditorium on Thursday, speakers said recent incidents of violence and rights violations against women have raised serious concerns over the rule of law, social justice and the state’s ability to protect citizens.
The event was organised by the Citizens’ Forum Against Hegemony (Adhipattobad Birodhi Nagorik Samaj). Political scientist and the organisation’s chief convener Dr Dilara Choudhury presented the keynote paper. Co-convener Fahim Mashroor moderated the event, while co-convener Ruby Amatullah chaired it.
In her keynote, Choudhury said women made significant contributions and sacrifices during the July 2024 mass uprising, helping create the possibility of fundamental changes in Bangladesh.
She said many women who hoped the movement would lead to a future based on the rule of law, good governance, justice and human dignity are now experiencing neglect, insecurity and despair.
“Bangladesh is a classical patriarchal country as here society tries to establish men as the driver of everything,” she said, pointing to everyday social practices and proverbs that she said reinforce the subordination of women.
Choudhury questioned the declining visibility of women in public and political life after the uprising, asking, “Where have the women of July gone?”
She also highlighted recent incidents involving violence, humiliation, verbal abuse and attacks on women's dignity, saying such incidents undermine women's fundamental rights and raise questions about the state's ability to protect them.
Citing research and statistics, Choudhury highlighted women's burden of unpaid household work, employment disparities and workplace harassment.
She referred to an ILO study showing that while 35% of women in Bangladesh are educated, only 5% are employed. The same study, she said, found that women perform around 79% of household work, compared with about 20% by men.
She also cited research conducted with garment workers, saying around 90% of the female workers interviewed reported experiencing sexual harassment at some point in their lives.
Choudhury said greater involvement of women in policymaking and decision-making was essential to address these structural problems.
Nafsin Mehenaz, a North South University student and participant in the July movement, said discussions about dominance often focus on one state dominating another, while male dominance over women in a patriarchal society receives far less attention.
She criticised political parties over their implementation of the July Charter, saying it calls for political parties to nominate at least 5% women candidates, with the target eventually rising to 33%.
“In the last general election neither the government nor the opposition parties did that,” she said.
Mehenaz also proposed introducing a victim protection law to provide greater protection and state support to victims of violence.
Former International Crimes Tribunal chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said protecting women's rights requires a positive role from all citizens and stressed that women's rights do not conflict with men's rights.
He also criticised restrictions on women's access to mosques and called on leaders of religion-based political parties to respect women's political and social presence.
Former diplomat Saquib Ali said a small section of society was oppressing the majority and warned against developing a culture in which people seek to become oppressors rather than challenge oppression.
Brigadier General (Retd.) Hasan Nasir, president of Nexus Defence and Justice and a co-convener of the Citizens' Forum Against Hegemony, said mothers were among the greatest sources of strength during the July movement.
He said many had forgotten the role played by these women after the uprising.
Advocate Somaiyad Shahriar Fida, a participant in the July movement, said women involved in the movement continue to face cyberbullying.
She called on political parties to expel members who make derogatory remarks about women.
Mardia Mumtaz, a Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker, said simply demanding greater participation of women in politics and elections would not be enough.
She said women's political participation could not increase without ensuring their safety and dignity.
Farhana Sharmin Shuchi, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), questioned the relatively low media presence at the women's rights seminar compared with other programmes organised under the same banner. She also spoke about her transition from an apolitical housewife to political activism.
Tajnuva Jabeen, an organiser with Alternatives, said patriarchal attitudes among both men and women can hinder women's empowerment.
She recalled that the Election Commission had set a target in 2008 for political parties to ensure 33% women's representation within their organisations by 2020, but the target was not achieved. She questioned whether the Election Commission would take action against parties that fail to meet subsequent representation targets.
Tajnuva also criticised the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, claiming that its major visible initiative over the past six months had been the introduction of a pink bus service.
Other speakers included political and human rights activist Rita Rahman, former diplomat Saquib Ali, July movement participants and representatives of political and civil society organisations.