Tarique Rahman calls for urgent action to protect women on his Birthday

Acting BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has urged all Bangladeshis to unite in building a country where women and girls can live, study, work, and lead without fear. In a poignant Facebook post accompanied by a family photograph with his wife and daughter, he highlighted the growing threats women face in the digital age and outlined five concrete priorities the BNP plans to implement if entrusted with power.

“The digital world now shapes every part of our lives,” he wrote. “My wife and I often reflect on how different today’s world is for our daughter compared to the one we grew up in. The opportunities are greater than ever, but so are the threats.”

Stressing that no woman should face harassment, intimidation, bullying, or violence simply for existing freely, Rahman declared: “This is not the Bangladesh we dream of. And it is not the future our young girls deserve.”

The five urgent priorities he proposed are:

1. A National Online Safety System A fast, simple reporting mechanism for cyberbullying, threats, impersonation, and leaked content, backed by a 24/7 hotline, online portal, and trained responders. Partnerships with global platforms will strengthen Bangla-language moderation and swift removal of abusive content.
2. Protection Protocols for Women in Public Life Clear national guidelines and rapid legal and digital support for female journalists, activists, students, and leaders facing targeted attacks. No woman should be silenced for participating in public life.
3. Digital Safety Education Mandatory practical digital-safety training in schools and universities, with designated “safety focal points” among teachers and annual awareness campaigns.
4. Stronger Community-Level Response Local help desks, safer transport routes, better street lighting, and trauma-sensitive responders to make everyday movement safer for women.
5. Nationwide Push for Women’s Leadership Expanded leadership training, mentoring networks, and widespread access to childcare in educational institutions and workplaces to enable women to rise and contribute fully.

Closing his message, Rahman appealed beyond politics: “Whatever our politics, religion, ethnicity, or gender, one truth must unite us as Bangladeshis: A Bangladesh where women are safe, supported, and empowered is an unstoppable Bangladesh.”

“Let us work together to make that future a reality—for our daughters, and for the generations yet to come.”