More than 20,000 Islamist activists flooded the streets of Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka, on Saturday to protest proposed legal reforms that would grant Bangladeshi women equal rights, including property inheritance. The rally, organized by Hefazat-e-Islam, an influential Islamist group, condemned the nation’s interim government commission for proposing changes they claim violate Sharia law.
The protestors rallied near Dhaka University carrying signs such as “Say no to Western laws on our women, rise up Bangladesh.” The group vowed to hold nationwide rallies on May 23 unless the government meets their demands.
Mamunul Haque, a Hefazat-e-Islam leader, criticized the reforms. He called for the abolition of the reform commission and punishment for its members. “They hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people of this country” by challenging Islamic inheritance laws, Haque said. The group also opposed proposed bans on polygamy and the recognition of sex workers as laborers.
The protest highlights growing Islamist influence in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Her removal came after mass uprisings alleging human rights abuses, including the deaths of hundreds of students. Hasina, leader of the Awami League party, now lives in exile in India.
Islamist groups have gained momentum under the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who assumed power with military backing. In response to Islamist pressure, the Yunus government banned the Awami League’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, branding it a “terrorist organization.” It also reversed a prior ban on the country’s largest Islamist party.
Opposition figures and minority communities have expressed concern about the rising power of religious extremists. Yunus has yet to announce a clear election timeline, stating a decision could come by late 2025 or early 2026.
Haque concluded the rally by issuing a warning: “If the government doesn’t scrap the commission and abandon the proposed changes, we will take to the streets across the country.”
