People from diverse backgrounds joined the “Narir Daake Moitree Jatra,” a march advocating for gender equity and women’s rights called by women, on Friday afternoon at Manik Mia Avenue, in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Women activists, cultural activists, writers, teachers, students, artists, tea garden workers, third-gender activists, and sexual workers, including both women and men, are participating in this gathering with colorful banners and festoons.
The main program started with singing the National Anthem at around 3:30pm.
The event opened with a cultural program featuring performances by people from a wide range of social and artistic backgrounds.
Following the cultural performances, a formal declaration outlining the movement’s core demands and vision was read aloud by three women from families of the July martyrs.
In the proclamation, they demanded that the interim government fulfill its constitutional duty by taking firm action against all forms of violence and misinformation targeting women and marginalized communities.
They also urged specific measures to empower women, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
The declaration called on political parties to clearly state their stances on ensuring full political, economic, and personal freedoms for women, workers, and minority communities, especially in view of the upcoming elections.
One of the key demands was for political parties to nominate at least 33 percent of parliamentary candidates from among women in the forthcoming elections.
They stressed the need to build a democratic, inclusive society grounded in anti-discrimination and egalitarian principles, where the dignity and rights of all citizens are protected.
The speakers expressed grave concern over the ongoing structural violence, abuse, sexual harassment, social exclusion, and intimidation faced by women and other marginalized communities—even in the aftermath of past uprisings.
Strong condemnation was directed at the organized disinformation campaign against the Women’s Reform Commission.
Although the commission proposed 433 recommendations to improve the lives of working-class and marginalized women, many of its key proposals have been distorted or deliberately ignored, they said.
The declaration also denounced the personal attacks against commission members, calling such harassment of women unacceptable.
From the rally, women called on the interim government to take immediate steps to improve education, healthcare, and socio-economic opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
The demands also included equal pay, recognition of women's rights to land and property, legal protection for sex workers and gender-diverse individuals, justice for survivors of violence, and an end to systemic discrimination against women.
According to sources from the organizers, 51 organizations, including Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Biplobi Chhatra Maitree, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Nari Mukti Kendra, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Hill Women's Federation, Adivasi Union, Garments Workers' Liberation Movement, Vigyan Andolan Mancha, Samajtantrik Mahila Forum, Bangladesh Nari Jote, Nari Samhati, Chhatra Front (Marxist), Archers, and Sramik Adhikar Andolan, participated in the Nari Maitree Jatra.
Participants carried a range of placards bearing powerful messages, including: “No means no,” “It’s never about clothes or belief—just weak men quaking, seeking relief,” and “Resist marital rape.”
Following the speeches, participants marched towards Khamarbari before returning to Manik Mia Avenue, where the event ended with chants and slogans echoing a unified demand for justice, equality, and an end to gender-based violence and discrimination.
Shireen Parveen Haque, head of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission; Rasheda K Chowdhury, an educationist and former adviser of the caretaker government; Prof Gitiara Nasrin, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University; Samina Lutfa, Associate Professor of Sociology Department at DU; Sheepa Hafiza, human rights activist; Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosanhati Andolan; and Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, among others, attended the event.
As per their central decision, none of them spoke with the media individually.
