Mon Apr 21 21:00:00 UTC 2025: **Bangladesh Islamist Groups Condemn Women’s Rights Reforms**
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – April 22, 2025 – Influential Islamist groups in Bangladesh are vehemently opposing the recommendations of a government-appointed Women’s Affairs Reforms Commission, escalating concerns about the erosion of women’s rights following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government last August.
Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami, leading Islamist organizations, have demanded the immediate cancellation of the commission’s proposals, which include replacing Muslim family law with a uniform family code to ensure gender equality. They characterized the recommendations as a “malicious effort to distort Islamic ideology” and a manifestation of Western influence.
The commission, established by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus, submitted its recommendations on April 19th, generating international attention. Yunus himself stated that the world is watching Bangladesh’s actions on this issue.
The increased influence of Islamist groups since Hasina’s removal has been marked by several incidents, including the cancellation of women’s sports events, the vandalization of Sufi shrines, and the suppression of cultural events deemed “anti-Islamic.” These actions have sparked widespread apprehension among women’s rights advocates.
Despite the backlash, the head of the Women’s Affairs Reforms Commission, Shirin Parvin Haque, affirmed the commission’s commitment to its recommendations, stating they will continue to advocate for women’s rights. Hasina, currently in exile in India, faces charges of crimes against humanity related to the protests that led to her downfall.
First Piper 