March for Solidarity at the Call of Women: Declaration

On Friday, May 16, in protest of recent incidents of violence and harassment against women, a solidarity march titled “March for Solidarity at the Call of Women” was held at Manik Mia Avenue, Dhaka.

The program began at 3:30 PM with the national anthem. By 5:00 PM, participants marched holding colourful banners and placards from Manik Mia Avenue to Khamarbari, then to Farmgate, Indira Road, and back to Manik Mia Avenue.

People from many backgrounds took part — progressive women, workers, students, teachers, artists, professionals, and others — united under the slogan “We Stand for Equality.”

At the beginning of the event, organizers read out a declaration with the core message:

Building a united feminist and socially just movement.

Full Declaration (in simplified English)

Friends and fellow fighters,

After the historic people’s uprising in July 2024, we are once again gathered at a crucial moment. Our demand is clear: we want a democratic and just Bangladesh where every person’s dignity and rights are upheld — based on shared values of equality and non-discrimination. We welcome everyone to this journey of solidarity and justice.

Today, among us are families of those who were injured or killed during the July uprising — along with human rights activists, professionals, artists, garment workers, tea garden laborers, sex workers, disability rights activists, hijra communities, gender-diverse and marginalized people, youth, students, indigenous people, non-Bengali citizens, and many more. These are the true representatives of Bangladesh — people who dream of equality, freedom, justice, diversity, and tolerance.

We stand here together with these hopes — the same hopes that fuelled the long women’s rights movement and the recent July uprising.

A History of Resistance:

Throughout our history — from the anti-colonial struggles, Tebhaga, Tonk, Nankar, the Language Movement of 1952, Liberation War of 1971, the 1990 democratic uprising, Phulbari and Kansat movements, protests against rape, the movement to save the Sundarbans, the Safe Roads movement, and the protests against VAT — women and others have shown great courage.

Current Concerns:

But today, even after the July uprising, we are deeply concerned. Conservative groups and patriarchal systems are still creating obstacles to the progress of women and marginalized people. Women face personal attacks, are excluded from decision-making, and are harassed online to discourage them from participating in politics.

In various places, there are sudden attacks, disruptions of protests, planned mob violence, moral policing, sexual harassment, rape, gang rape, public beatings, and constant threats.

On the Women’s Reform Commission:

Recently, a Women’s Reform Commission was formed by the government to improve the lives of working-class and marginalized women. The commission submitted 433 recommendations. While some parts of the report sparked debate — as expected — the most important and basic rights-based suggestions were deliberately ignored. Instead of open discussions, a campaign of misinformation was launched. The commission’s members were insulted and humiliated publicly.

What is worse — the interim government, formed after the sacrifices made by many during the July uprising, remained silent in the face of these attacks. Even though it was their own commission, they took no action.

Systemic Injustice and Hypocrisy:

It seems today that the dream of democracy is being twisted into a tool of control by the majority. We want to say clearly — when there is systemic violence and inequality, trying to block or distort the struggle for justice only proves how necessary that struggle is.

Ongoing Injustices Against Women:

Women in agriculture, fishing, and domestic work still have no official recognition.
Women are still paid less than men for the same work.
Dalit, Harijan, and indigenous women face double discrimination.
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, women face abuse by security forces.
Bawm women are imprisoned for demanding their rights.
96% of Bangladeshi women still don’t own land.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Asia.
We rank fourth globally in intimate partner violence.
Rape, gang rape, murder after rape, dowry killings, and harassment continue without justice — 97% of these cases see no legal resolution.
Due to legal loopholes, many women don’t get their rights to property, child custody, or divorce settlements.
Sex workers still lack basic citizenship protection.
Gender-diverse individuals are still not recognized.
Many female migrant workers return home in coffins.

These are the structural injustices we must fight together. Our goal is equality and human rights for all.

Our Culture is Not One-Dimensional:

Our culture, history, and religion are not simple or uniform. Using “national unity” as an excuse to ignore women’s rights or the rights of any marginalized group is unacceptable. Every issue — from land rights to environmental justice — is also a women’s issue. You cannot ensure dignity and justice for all without ensuring the rights of the most deprived.

We remind this interim and future governments: the political, economic, and personal freedom of women, workers, ethnic and religious minorities, and gender-diverse people is not conditional. It must be guaranteed.

If these fundamental issues are ignored, it would go against everything the women’s movement and the July uprising stood for.

Our Demands and Struggles:

We fight for:

Fair wages, paid leave, safe work environments, and the right to unionize.
Land rights for women and full recognition as farmers.
Rights to education, healthcare, and housing.
Reproductive rights, privacy, and the right to participate freely in politics and the judiciary.
Justice for victims of violence, dignity in life, and social safety nets.
Property rights and total self-determination for women.
Rights of disabled people and all marginalized communities.
Environmental protection, an end to impunity, and safeguarding democratic rights.

Most of these demands were in the Women’s Reform Commission’s report. The campaign to discredit the commission and silence its members is alarming. The government’s silence shows they may allow our rights to be crushed by threats and fear.

We See the Pattern:

Hate politics, threats, and organized violence continue. They want to silence our fair demands. We ask — who is the government trying to please? The extreme nationalists who fear equality? The elite who only want fake reforms to protect their privilege.
We will not allow this.
Rights are not given freely — they must be claimed. And we are not afraid to claim them.

Our Clear Demands:

The interim government must fulfil its constitutional duty. It must act against:

Threats and violence against women and marginalized people,
Misinformation around the Women’s Reform Commission,
The use of religion to spread fear.

Those seeking our support — in elections or through reform promises — must clearly state their stance on the rights of women, workers, minorities, and gender-diverse people. Especially in the upcoming election, at least 33% of candidates (gradually increasing by population ratio) must be women.
The interim government must urgently take action to empower women and marginalized people through education, healthcare, and economic support.

Our Commitment:

We will not accept violence and inequality against us. We will resist any attempt to take away our rights. We will not allow culture or religion to be turned into tools of oppression. We will not let narrow-minded people define our rich and diverse culture, religion, and history.

We will not accept any contradiction between rights and religion. We will monitor the actions of the government and every political party regarding women’s issues. And we will break the power structures that enable this injustice.

We will not stay silent. We will not bow to threats. We will keep fighting for our rights. We will not give up on the dream of a just and equal Bangladesh.

Thank you for standing with us.
Our struggle will continue.

Source: TBS