Bangladesh’s Islamists seek abolition of women’s commission

DHAKA: Bangladesh´s influential Islamist coalition has demanded the abolition of a government women´s commission, a further indication of how hardline, religiously fuelled activism is strengthening after years of suppression.

The women´s commission is part of efforts to reform systems installed during the iron-fisted rule of Shiekh Hasina, who was overthrown by student-led mass protests in August 2024.

Hefazat-e-Islam, a platform of religious seminaries, wants the cancellation of the Women´s Affairs Reforms Commission, set up by the caretaker government of Nobel Peace prize winner Mohammed Yunus.

Azizul Haque Islamabadi, a senior Hefazat-e-Islam leader, said the group opposed the commission´s recommendation for ending discriminatory provisions against women.

“Ensuring equality is a Western ideology,” Islamabadi told AFP. “The commission recommended a uniform family code instead of Muslim family law, which governs inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other issues.”

Jamaat-E-Islami, the largest Islamist political party, also demanded the immediate cancellation of the recommendations.