Women’s rights organization Nari Odhikar Andolan has expressed concern over cases of online harassment and derogatory commentary directed at several women, including Dhaka University teacher and assistant proctor Shehreen Amin Bhuiyan (Monami) and Jatiya Nagorik Party leader Tasneem Zara. The group stated that these incidents reflect a broader rise in misogynistic speech and gender-based attacks on social media.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, President Mumtaz Mannan and Secretary Nazmun Nahar said that such remarks undermine personal dignity and normalize hostility toward women in public discourse. They noted that female leaders and activists from various political backgrounds, including members of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami women’s wing in several districts, have also faced harassment and attacks.
The statement highlighted ongoing instances of image manipulation, defamatory postings, and targeted harassment of female public figures, describing these acts as violations of rights and personal security. The organization emphasized that targeting women due to political identity, professional position, or public presence constitutes discrimination and contributes to a climate of intimidation.
Nari Odhikar Andolan called for:
-Impartial investigations into recent incidents of harassment and attacks,
-Legal action against online abuse, image distortion, and character attacks, and
-Institutional measures to ensure the safety and dignity of female teachers, political leaders, journalists, and other professionals.
The organization also encouraged broader social engagement in promoting respectful public environments for women and discouraging practices that demean or discredit them.
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