Women and people from civil societies have called upon the interim government to ensure equal rights and full freedom for women as enshrined in the constitution.

They made this call from a gathering named ‘Narider Dake Moitri Jatra’ held at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, May 16.

Thousands of people including males also joined the gathering to show solidarity with women and protest discrimination and violence against women.

The organisers carried a range of placards displaying messages like “No means No,” “It’s never about clothes or belief, just weak men quaking, seeking relief,” and “Resist marital rape”.

The event began with singing the national anthem and a cultural segment showcasing performances by individuals from various communities from rural area, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the gathering.

After the cultural parts, a formal declaration was announced articulating the movement’s central demands and visions.

Three female members of the July martyrs’ families read out the proclamation of the rally.

In their proclamation, they demanded that the interim government must fulfill its constitutional responsibilities by taking decisive action against all forms of violence and misinformation targeting women and marginalised communities.

Later, they called on the government to take measures to empower the women particularly marginalised one.

They also called upon the political parties to clearly state their positions on the full political, economic, and personal freedom of women, labourers, and minority populations for having their support during the election.

They also demanded minimum 33 percent of MP candidates from women in the upcoming elections.

They said it’s must to build a democratic, anti-discrimination, and egalitarian principles, where dignity and rights of all citizens will be guaranteed.

The also expressed deep concern over the persistent structural violence, abuse, sexual harassment, social exclusion, and intimidation faced by women and other marginalised groups even after the uprising.

Condemning the organised disinformation campaign against the state-initiated Women’s Reform Commission, they said, although the women reform commission proposed 433 recommendations to improve the conditions of working-class and marginalised women, many of its key proposals have been misrepresented or ignored intentionally.

The members of the commission were subjected to personal attacks. We strongly condemn such action of harassing women, they said in the declaration.

From the gathering, women urged the interim government to take immediate steps to improve education, healthcare, and socio-economic empowerment for disadvantaged groups.

The rally called for equal pay, recognition of women’s rights to land and property, and legal protection for sex workers and gender-diverse individuals, justice for survivors of violence and end of systemic discrimination on women.

They declared their firm commitment to continue the fight for an inclusive and rights-based Bangladesh.

After the rally, they brought out a procession towards Khamarbari and returned back to Manik Miah Avenue, where the event concluded with chants and slogans, echoing a collective call for justice, equality, and an end to gender-based violence and discrimination.