Nilima Jahan

When the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance was promulgated in March last year, it was hailed by many as an “iron shield” for women and children in Bangladesh.

Just after 9:00am on Friday, independent Dhaka-9 candidate Tasnim Jara stepped into the narrow lanes of Goran Bazar in Khilgaon with around 15 volunteers by her side.

As Bangladesh moves towards the February 12 national election, women, who make up half the electorate, say political rhetoric no longer moves them.

TDS: The Women’s Affairs Reforms Commission made 423 recommendations. How much has been implemented?

When 32-year-old Akhi (not her real name) finally left her marriage last year, it was not the beatings that drove her away. It was the slow erasure of her being.

As the country is set to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, Ekushey Padak-winning activist Md Saidul Huq has urged stronger political commitment to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities.

Twelve political parties yesterday endorsed a child rights manifesto outlining 10 non-negotiable commitments co-created by children and young people and supported by UNICEF ahead of the 2026 national election.

Experts warn justice system ill-equipped to handle digital crimes

When her husband fell ill in 2013 and could no longer work, 36-year-old Moni Begum from Sherpur’s Nakla upazila suddenly became the only earning member of her family. However, she refused to give up.

Since Sharmin Akter (not her real name), 40, from Gazipur’s Kapasia, was married at just 12, she has endured relentless violence and abuse, describing the daily ordeal like “three meals a day”.

Bangladesh is witnessing a troubling rise in child labour, with the latest government survey showing that about 9.2 percent of children aged 5-17 are engaged in work, up from 6.8 percent in 2019.

Progress on ending child marriage remains alarmingly slow, particularly among adolescent girls aged 15-19, MICS findings

At just 21, Jyoti Hossain from Jhikargachha, Jashore, is fighting not her disability but rather a system that refuses to include her.

Bangladesh has made notable legal progress for persons with disabilities, ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and adopting strong domestic laws and action plans.

How the country’s system treats them as a welfare issue, denying inclusion and equal opportunities

At least seven of those killed or missing in the Arian Fashion fire in the capital’s Rupnagar were aged between 13 and 18.

BBS-UNFPA survey on violence against women reveals alarming figures

For mothers across Bangladesh, love for their daughters comes with an inseparable companion: fear. From Dhaka’s crowded apartments to quiet village streets, raising girls in a patriarchal society demands constant vigilance, courage, and resilience.

In a year shadowed by violence and uncertainty, Bangladesh’s girls have stood where courage is tested most. They are the first to lose when systems fail, yet the first to rise when the world needs rebuilding. From classrooms to clinics, protest lines to policy tables, they lead with resilience beyond their years.

Poor work conditions fuelling mental health crisis, costing trillions worldwide, WHO data shows