Women in Bangladesh have played important roles in social and political change, but they are still largely excluded from positions of power and decision-making, speakers said at a town hall discussion marking International Women’s Day on Sunday.
The event was titled “Her Voice, Her Rights.” was organized by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) under the global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”
Speaking at the event, Shaheen Anam, executive director of MJF, said equal rights and dignity for all people were central to Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. However, she said women and girls are still facing violence, discrimination and limited participation in decision-making.
She said women in Bangladesh have repeatedly shown courage and leadership but are still missing from places where real power exists. Shaheen Anam also emphasized that laws must be properly implemented and institutions must be held accountable when they fail to protect rights.
She described the Fourth World Conference on Women as a historic milestone that highlighted key issues affecting women worldwide. She encouraged young people to take stronger roles in defending women’s rights.
The town hall created a space for open discussion among young people and representatives from Dalit communities, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, gender-diverse groups and grassroots organizations.
Presenting the context of the discussion, Wasiur Rahman Tonmoy, lead for Youth Engagement and social cohesion at MJF, said women played a visible role in the July uprising but remain underrepresented in reform processes and decision-making spaces.
He shared several statistics to highlight the situation. In 2025, 2,808 incidents of violence against women and girls were recorded in Bangladesh, including 786 cases of rape or gang rape. About 72% of ever-married women have experienced intimate partner violence, while 63 to 78% have faced online harassment. Around 51% of women were married before the age of 18, and only seven women were directly elected to Parliament, although women make up nearly half of the population.
Banasree Mitra Neogi, director of Rights and Governance Programs at MJF, said the country’s independence struggle was also about rights, dignity and voice. She said people should question whether true equality is being achieved in society.
During the discussion, participants from different communities shared their experiences and concerns. Many spoke about discrimination against transgender people, limited access to justice for women in rural areas, poor enforcement of child marriage laws, and increasing gender-based violence on social media.
Participants also raised concerns about the discrimination faced by women with disabilities, dowry-related abuse, and the continuing problem of child marriage in areas such as Khagrachhari.
Responding to the issues raised, Jinat Ara Haque, chief executive of WE Can Bangladesh, said progress has been made but discrimination still exists in many forms. She stressed that girls should not grow up believing that marriage is their only future.
Human rights activist Susmita Chakma from Rangamati said child marriage and violence have increased in some areas in recent years. She also noted that many people at the grassroots level still lack awareness about laws, and legal processes in rape cases remain long and difficult.
Dr Ainoon Naher, professor at the Department of Anthropology at Jahangirnagar University, said child marriage, rape and other forms of discrimination are rooted in patriarchy and social norms. She emphasized that protecting girls’ safety, empowerment and decision-making power is essential.
Meanwhile, Khandaker Jahurul Alam, executive director of Centre for Services and Information on Disability (CSID), highlighted the challenges faced by women with disabilities. He said they often experience social neglect, limited access to services and exclusion from public life.
Speakers at the event said International Women's Day should not remain only a symbolic observance. They called for stronger implementation of laws, accountability from institutions and greater inclusion of women and girls from all communities in decision-making.
They stressed that the demand for rights, justice and action must lead to real changes so that every woman and girl in Bangladesh can live with dignity, safety and equal voice.