:Feminism in Bangladesh

Feminist movements in Bangladesh started long before its independence. During the 19th century the social reform movement, mostly carried out by male social leaders, worked to abolish practices such as infanticide, child marriage, and widow burning. Women activists in Bangladesh organized to claim their rights during the British and Pakistan period of Bangladesh. They mobilized to fight regarding issues including violence against women, economic opportunities for women, equal representation in politics for women, reproductive rights, reforming family law, and gender equality in public policies. During the Pakistan period the feminist movement was more focused on politics and national struggles.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fes-asia.org/news/the-womens-movement-in-bangladesh/|title=The Women's Movement in Bangladesh|access-date=2018-07-20|language=en|archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721014147/https://www.fes-asia.org/news/the-womens-movement-in-bangladesh/|url-status=dead}} The feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s was led by professional women from urban areas.

• 1886: Swarnakumari Devi established the Sakhi Samiti (Women's Friend Association), one of the first women's voluntary associations in Bengal, aiming to support and empower women.

• 1905: Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain published "Sultana's Dream," a pioneering feminist science fiction work envisioning a society where women lead and men are secluded.
• 1916: Begum Rokeya founded the Muslim Women's Association, advocating for women's education and employment opportunities.
• 1926: Kamini Roy, a prominent poet and social worker, led the Bangiya Nari Samaj, an organization campaigning for women's suffrage in Bengal.

• 1947: Manikuntala Sen became one of the first women active in the Communist Party of India, advocating for women's rights and social reforms.

Late 20th Century: Feminist Literature and Activism

• 1992: Humayun Azad published "Naree", a comprehensive feminist treatise in Bengali that critiqued patriarchal structures and advocated for women's rights.

21st Century: Continued Advocacy and Recognition

• 2000: The ban on Humayun Azad's "Naree" was lifted, following a legal battle that Azad won, marking a significant victory for freedom of expression and feminist literature in Bangladesh.

The Muslim Family Law was enacted by the British Indian government. Which is discriminatory against women's rights law.

==Bangladeshi feminists==

• Begum Rokeya was a notable feminist, educator, and activist.{{cite book |last=Akhter |first=Shahida |year=2012 |chapter=Hossain, Roquiah Sakhawat |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Hossain,_Roquiah_Sakhawat |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh }}{{cite web|url=http://www.londoni.co/index.php/who-s-who?id=61|title=Roquia Sakhawat Hussain (Begun Rokeya)|author=Administrator|work=Londoni|access-date=24 January 2016|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221644/http://www.londoni.co/index.php/who-s-who?id=61|url-status=dead}}
• Kamini Roy was the first woman honors graduate in British India.Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, {{in lang|bn}}, p83, {{ISBN|81-85626-65-0}}
• Nawab Faizunnesa was the first woman Nawab of South Asia, she is known for her campaign for female education and other social issues related to women{{cite web|author=Saydul Karim|title=Nawab Faizunnessa Chowdhurani History|url=http://www.nfgc.edu.bd/fouu.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215725/http://www.nfgc.edu.bd/fouu.html|archive-date=4 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013|publisher=Nawab Faizunnessa Government College}}{{cite web|date=12 June 2012|title=Famous Bengali: Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani ... | Bangladesh|url=http://mybangladesh.tumblr.com/post/24960142392/famous-bengali-nawab-faizunnesa-chowdhurani|access-date=4 September 2013|publisher=Mybangladesh.tumblr.com}}{{cite news|script-title=bn:বাংলা সাহিত্যে মুসলমান নারী|work=Daily Sangram |language=bn |url=http://www.dailysangram.com/news_details.php?news_id=75678|url-status=dead|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215844/http://www.dailysangram.com/news_details.php?news_id=75678|archive-date=4 October 2013}}{{cite news|script-title=bn:নারী মহীয়সী|work=Jaijaidin |language=bn |url=http://www.jjdin.com/print_news.php?path=data_files/502&cat_id=3&menu_id=81&news_type_id=1&news_id=70119|access-date=3 September 2013}}
• Mohammad Nasiruddin, Bangladeshi journalist, women's rights activist, and publisher of Begum{{Cite web |title=Nasiruddin, Mohammad |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Nasiruddin,_Mohammad |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Banglapedia |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=de Haan |first1=Francisca |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f5mrIppA9c4C |title=Women's Activism: Global Perspectives from the 1890s to the Present |last2=Purvis |first2=June |last3=Allen |first3=Margaret |publisher=Routledge |year=2013}}
• Fazilatunnesa, Bangladeshi mathematician, Principal of Eden Mohila College, and first female post-graduate of Muslim Bengal.{{Cite web |title=Fazilatunnessa, Begum |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Fazilatunnessa,_Begum |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Banglapedia}}
• Nurjahan Begum, pioneer female journalist and editor of Begum, the first women's magazine in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Bablu |title=Pioneer of Women's Rights and Literacy Passes Away |url=http://www.kfaw.or.jp/correspondents/docs/26-1_Bangladesh_E.pdf}}
• Nurun Nahar Faizannesa was a leader of the feminist movement in Bangladesh-{{Cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Faizannesa,_Nurun_Nahar|title=Faizannesa, Nurun Nahar |website=Banglapedia|language=en|access-date=2017-08-26}}
• Mahmuda Khatun Siddiqua, Bangladeshi poet, essayist, and a pioneering women's liberation activist.
• Sultana Kamal is a Bangladeshi lawyer and human rights activist. She serves as the executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, a civil rights organization.
• Sufia Kamal, Bangladeshi poet, feminist leader, and social activist.
• Taslima Nasrin is a feminist who is known for her criticism of religion.{{cite news |last1=Ghosh|first1=Subhajyoti|title=Why Taslima Nasreen wants to return to Bangladesh|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28307267|work=BBC News|access-date=23 May 2015}}
• Syeda Razia Faiz was the first female elected member of parliament in Bangladesh.{{cite news|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/obituary-136/|title=Obituary|work=The Daily Star|access-date=9 March 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310081029/http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/obituary-136/|url-status=dead}}
• Hasna Begum is a contemporary Bangladeshi philosopher of feminism and held the prestigious Rokeya Chair by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Rokeya Rahman Kabeer was a woman emancipation activist.{{Cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Kabeer,_Rokeya_Rahman|title=Kabeer, Rokeya Rahman |website=Banglapedia|language=en|access-date=2017-11-03}}
• Masuda Khatun was a pioneering feminist who was given the nickname Agni Nagini (Fire Serpent) by Kazi Nazrul Islam.{{Cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Khatun,_Masuda|title=Khatun, Masuda |website=Banglapedia|language=en|access-date=2017-11-03}}
• Wasfia Nazreen is the first Bangladeshi, and Bengali person of any gender, to climb all the Seven Summits.
• Shaheda Mustafiz is the first female programmer of Bangladesh.{{cite news |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/technology/article/1447236/%e0%a6%a4%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%bf-%e0%a6%a6%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b6%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%a5%e0%a6%ae-%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%80-%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8b%e0%a6%97%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0

|script-title=bn:তিনি দেশের প্রথম নারী প্রোগ্রামার|newspaper=Prothom Alo|date=10 March 2018|language=bn|access-date=21 July 2019

}}{{cite web|url=http://anannya.com.bd/fullnews.php?id=1463|script-title=bn:প্রোগ্রামিং-এ 'প্রথমা' শাহেদা মুস্তাফিজ|website=Ananya|date=17 July 2019|language=bn|access-date=21 July 2019|archive-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028155506/http://www.anannya.com.bd/fullnews.php?id=1463|url-status=dead}}

• Ayesha Khanam, Bangladeshi feminist leader and freedom fighter.
• Rounaq Jahan, Bangladeshi political scientist, feminist leader, and author.
• Angela Gomes, social worker and founder of Banchte Shekha (Learn How To Survive){{Cite news |date=2016-02-05 |title=Dr. Angela Gomes |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/supplements/star-lifetime-awardees-2016/dr-angela-gomes-212809 |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
• Husne Ara Kamal, Bangladeshi academician and social worker.
• Shireen Huque, cofounder of Naripokkho and anti-violence crusader.{{Cite web |title=I am Generation Equality: Shireen Huq, anti-violence crusader |url=https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/11/i-am-generation-equality-shireen-huq-anti-violence-crusader |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=UN Women – Headquarters |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Shireen Huq |url=https://interview-her.com/speaker/shireen-huq/ |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=interview-her.com}}
• Rahnuma Ahmed, anthropologist, activist, and author{{Cite news |date=2018-07-03 |title=Eminent anthropologist, leftist leader detained briefly from protest, released later |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2018/07/03/cpb-leader-ju-teacher-detained-briefly-from-protest |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}{{Cite news |title='Belong: A Conference and Exhibition on Feminism' held at DrikPath Bhaban |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/showtime/2022/03/07/belong-a-conference-and-exhibition-on-feminism-held-at-drikpath-bhaban |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}
• Nazma Akter, Bangladeshi trade unionist and founder of the Awaj Foundation.{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh factory owner charged with murder after 52 die in fire |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/10/murder-bangladesh-factory-owner-held-after-deadly-fire |access-date=2022-05-05 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
• Joya Sikder, transgender activist and founder of Somporker Noya Setu (SNS){{Cite news |last=Jahan |first=Dil Afrose |date=2022-03-10 |title='Victimised twice' |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/rights/news/victimised-twice-2979661 |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Tasneem |first1=Saadia A. |last2=Mrittika |first2=Aahir |last3=Zillur |first3=Umama |last4=Zillur |first4=Zahra |date=2020-04-06 |title=The Women's Movement in Bangladesh Throughout the Years |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/in-focus/news/the-womens-movement-bangladesh-throughout-the-years-1889908 |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
• Tasaffy Hossain, founder of the feminist organization Bonhishikha, that first staged The Vagina Monologues in Bangladesh.{{Cite news |title=Bonhishikha-unlearn gender: A creative platform to challenge gender stereotypes |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/special-supplement/2022/03/08/bonhishikha-unlearn-gender-a-creative-platform-to-challenge-gender-stereotypes |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}
• Trishia Nashtaran, founder of the feminist grassroots organization Meye Network.{{Cite news |date=2021-03-08 |title=I aim to create gender-focused knowledge and services through storytelling and design thinking here |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/special-supplement/2021/03/08/i-aim-to-create-gender-focused-knowledge-and-services-through-storytelling-and-design-thinking-here |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}{{Cite news |script-title=bn:গণমাধ্যমে "রাতের রাণী" ব্যবহারের বিরুদ্ধে সামাজিক মাধ্যমে প্রতিবাদ |url=https://www.voabangla.com/a/6011816.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |work=VOA |language=bn}}

• Begum magazine, founded in 1947
• Bangladesh Mahila Samiti (formerly Dhaka branch of All Pakistan Women's Association), opened in 1949
• Dhaka Ladies Club, opened in 1951
• Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, formed in 1970
• Banchte Shekha, established in 1976
• Naripokkho, formed in 1973{{Cite web |title=Naripokkho, Non-Governmental Organization |url=https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/bangladesh/2009/naripokkho-non-governmental-organization |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=evaw-global-database.unwomen.org}}{{Cite web |last=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |title=Refworld {{!}} Bangladesh: Information on a women's development group called Nari Pakkho in Dhaka, including when it was formed, what its activities include, whether it has well-known patrons, and whether its members have had problems with authorities |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9122.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Refworld |language=en}}
• Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association, formed in 1979.
• Hill Women's Federation(HWF)formed in 1988
• Acid Survivors Foundation, founded in 1999
• Awaj Foundation, founded in 2003
• Bonhishikha, formed in 2010.
• Somporker Noya Setu (SNS), formed in 2010
• Bangladesh Feminist Archives (BFA), formed in 2024.

• Women in Bangladesh
• Islamic feminism
• Women in Hinduism
• Women in Islam
• Feminist theology

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Category:Culture of Bangladesh

Bangladesh