Bangladesh celebrated International Women鈥檚 Day on Saturday amid incidents of rape, sexual harassment and mob attacks on women and a rising voice of protests and demand for women鈥檚 safety.
Government and non-governmental institutions and rights organisations observed the day across the country through processions, rallies and cultural events, among other programmes, with this year鈥檚 global theme for the day 鈥楩or all women and girls: rights, equality, empowerment鈥�.
The interim government鈥檚 chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on the day at a ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city honoured outstanding women with the 鈥業ndomitable Women鈥檚 Award 2025鈥� for their significant contributions in various fields.
In the morning on the day, Samajik Protirodh Committee (committee for social prevention), a platform of 67 organisations for women rights, human rights and development, organised a procession followed by a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, demanding equal rights for women in the social, economic, political spheres and in decision-making processes, said a press release.
They also demanded opportunities and respect for women, elimination of social and gender discrimination and justice for empowering women.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Fouzia Moslem stated at the programme that the interim government must take all measures to enable women to exercise their right to safe mobility.聽聽
鈥楩rom here we want to declare that we will change this social setting and ensure our rights and dignity. We will not bow down to any torture and discrimination,鈥� she added.
On the day Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, organised a rally at the Teacher-Student Centre at Dhaka University, marking the day, 抖阴精品 DU correspondent reported.
BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman at the rally said that the unrest, mob justice and rape of women must stop, or else the dream of building a new Bangladesh free from fascism would remain unrealised.
Women rights organisation Bonhishikha organised a discussion at the Central Shaheed Minar at about 3:00pm, urging the government to take effective measures to ensure security to all citizens, including women and children.
It also demanded speedy trial to ensure punishment for the perpetrators and justice for the victims.
The British High Commission in Dhaka organised an event marking the day where distinguished Bangladeshi women leaders discussed progress and challenges in advancing gender equality, United News of Bangladesh reported.
Hill Women鈥檚 Federation, a Chittagong Hill Tracts-based organisation, held a rally in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday morning, demanding an immediate end to rape and sexual harassment of women and children across the country. They also called on all to thwart the conspiracy to rape the hill women and girl children in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In 1910, the second International Socialist Women鈥檚 Conference was held in Copenhagen, where the idea of an International Women鈥檚 Day was floated by German socialist Clara Zetkin.
International Women鈥檚 Day has been being observed on March 8 since 2013.
The United Nations began celebrating the day from 1975.
