'Bangladesh Women’s Rights Under Threat': Dhaka University Professor Zobaida Nasreen | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 08, 2025, 07:30 IST

Dr Nasreen described the situation as 'pathetic', with women facing increasing threats and social intimidation for advocating their rights

Nasreen said she received a letter advising her to cover her head before coming to the university. Pic/Dhaka University

Zobaida Nasreen, a professor at Dhaka University and a prominent voice in last year’s protest movement, has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating situation for women in Bangladesh.

Speaking exclusively to News18 from Germany, where she is currently on a scholarship programme, Dr Nasreen described the situation as “pathetic", with women facing increasing threats and social intimidation for advocating their rights.

Excerpts from the interview:

After the Muhammad Yunus government came to power, a women’s affairs commission submitted draft recommendations. What is the current status of those suggestions?

The recommendations put forward by the women’s commission, intended to improve the status of women in the country, have been outright rejected by fundamentalist groups. Worse, those who served on the committee are now being openly threatened and defamed, with many labelled as “sex workers" to silence and discredit them.

Some recommendations focused on ensuring rights for sex workers, while others addressed inheritance laws. These have also faced fierce opposition from fundamentalist factions. Groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami have even held rallies to protest against the commission’s suggestions, clearly pressuring the government not to act on them. Disturbingly, the government appears to be influenced by these groups.

Women played a visible role in last year’s protest movement. Why then is there this sudden shift in attitude towards them?

This is part of a broader effort to reverse the gains made by the women’s movement in Bangladesh. During last year’s protests, women participated in large numbers—even in the middle of the night, wearing whatever they had on. At that time, no one objected. But now, those same women are being targeted with abusive language and harassment.

I also believe that the NCP (National Citizen Party) is complicit in this. Their silence is telling—they have not spoken out against this backlash, which indirectly supports the targeting of women.

How would you describe the current situation for women in Bangladesh?

Women are afraid. Many have started changing the way they dress—not because of any legal requirement, but because of mounting social pressure. The psychological and social pressure is immense. They are living in constant fear and under significant stress.

Have you personally faced any threats?

Nothing was said to me directly, but I did receive a letter advising me to cover my head before coming to the university. I was active in the movement and opposed the Sheikh Hasina regime—I faced harassment then as well. What’s happening now is deeply troubling. Anyone who dares to speak out against fundamentalist forces is being targeted.

Kamalika Sengupta

Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar...Read More

Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar...

Read More

Location :

First Published:

News world 'Bangladesh Women’s Rights Under Threat': Dhaka University Professor Zobaida Nasreen | Exclusive