Thousands in Dhaka came out to protest against the government's proposed acts to ensure equal rights, including property rights, mainly for Muslim women. Hefazat-e-Islam, a very holy organization of Bangladesh, initiated the protest and claimed that some recommendations hurt "the sentiments of the majority of the people of this country."
Hefazat-i-Islam leaders claim that the draft recommendations of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, set up during Muhammad Yunus' interim government, are contrary to Shariah law. They have threatened to organize a countrywide protest on 23 May, should the government fail to meet their demands.
Some 20,000-odd followers of the group gathered near Dhaka University, some carrying banners and placards with slogans like "Say no to Western laws on our women, rise Bangladesh", in one of their biggest shows of strength in years, while religious activism flourished in Bangladesh post-Ziaur Rahman's regime. Most protestors were from non-government and "kawmi" madrasah teachers and students.
Islamist groups have increased their visibility in Bangladesh since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and minority groups have raised their argument upon allegations of intimidation.
What Were The Demands
The protestors mostly opposed proposals that had been laid down to ensure equality of rights, including those on property, mostly for Muslim women. The Nayeb-e-Ameer or senior leader of the platform, Maulana Mahfuzul Huq, read out a 12-point charter of demands. Demand one was the abolition of the current women's reform commission and to have its members punished for putting forward the proposed changes. They also demanded the formation of a new commission that would include Islamic scholars and women representatives.
He said the proposed changes by the commission hurt "the sentiments of the majority of the people of this country" by putting religious laws of inheritance at the centre stage as the main cause for any kind of discrimination against women.
"Men and women can never be equal," declared the teacher of a women's madrasa, Mohammad Shihab Uddin, to the rally.
He added that the Quran outlined specific codes of life for both genders and "there is no way we can go beyond that".
Hefazat demanded that the constitution be stated with complete faith and trust in almighty Allah. The group called on the government to give up what they called a "suicidal concept" of pluralism and to protect what they view as the faith and practices of the Muslims. The same group also opposed some terms to be included in the constitution, such as "gender identity," "gender diversity," "gender equality," "gender discrimination," "third gender," and "other genders."
The Women's Affairs Reform Commission is one of the commissions that have been instituted by the interim government to implement reforms. It had recently submitted its recommendations to the government.
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