Bangladesh’s Islamists seek abolition of women’s commission

The influential Islamist coalition in Bangladesh has called for the abolition of the government Women’s Commission, signaling a rise in hardline religious activism following years of suppression.

The Women’s Commission was established as part of efforts to reform systems implemented during the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted by student-led protests in August 2024.

Hefazat-e-Islam, a coalition of religious seminaries, is pushing for the disbandment of the Women’s Affairs Reforms Commission, which was created by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammed Yunus during the caretaker government’s tenure.

Senior Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi stated that the group opposes the commission’s recommendations to eliminate discriminatory provisions against women, arguing that “ensuring equality is a Western ideology.”

“The commission suggested a uniform family code instead of the Muslim family law that governs inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other matters,” Islamabadi told AFP.

Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party, also called for the immediate rejection of the recommendations, with Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar claiming that initiatives to promote gender equality distort Islamic ideology.

Following the submission of the commission’s recommendations on April 19, Yunus emphasized the global significance of empowering women.

During Hasina’s tenure, her government faced criticism for human rights violations and a crackdown on Islamist movements. She is currently in exile in India, avoiding charges of crimes against humanity related to the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the uprising that led to her downfall.

Since her removal from power, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in support for Islamist groups. Women have expressed concerns over the cancellation of women’s football matches, attacks on Sufi shrines, and the censorship of cultural events deemed “anti-Islamic.”

Despite opposition, Shirin Parvin Haque, the head of the commission, remains steadfast in advancing women’s rights.

“We stand by our proposed recommendations that we believe are essential for upholding women’s rights,” Haque told AFP.