Feminist Alliance of Bangladesh (FAB) is a platform for progressive and decolonial feminists in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi diaspora. We are committed to fighting against cis-heteropatriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, exclusionary nationalism, militarization, enforcement, intolerance, and violence based on personal and institutional beliefs and opinions, and oppression of and discrimination against minoritized and marginalized communities.

We are thrilled to witness the beginning of a transformed, new Bangladesh. The creative and indomitable organizing of our young generation has enabled us to dream again. We dream of a new Bangladesh that is free from hetero-patriarchal, colonial, neo-colonial, and capitalist exploitation. We dream of a new Bangladesh where there will be equity among all sexes and sexualities, and where gender diversity and gender non-conformity will be celebrated and institutionally emancipated. We dream of a Bangladesh where everyone – including all minoritized and marginalized communities – will enjoy freedom from oppression and discrimination.

To make this Bangladesh a reality, we – progressive and decolonial feminists – propose some significant structural changes. We believe that representation without politics is tokenism and politics without representation is exclusion. We appreciate that the newly formed interim government body is relatively diverse. However, achieving the transformed Bangladesh of our dreams would require much more.

• We urge the interim government to take initiatives that will obstruct the emergence of another authoritarian regime. The government should take necessary steps to remove constitutional loopholes that enabled and sustained militaristic and authoritarian regimes in the past. It should ensure an inclusive and equitable environment for a free and fair election every time.

• We urge the interim government to push for and collaborate with the United Nations and other international human rights organizations to conduct prompt, detailed, independent, and impartial investigations of the July massacre and human rights violations and hold the perpetrators accountable.

• With the advent of the unstable situation during the transitional period, women, trans and hijra, queer, and gender non-conforming communities have been facing increasing uncertainty and insecurity. We urge the interim government to take effective steps and initiate dialogue with community stakeholders to ensure the safety of these vulnerable communities from harm inflicted by various hate groups.

• We urge the interim government to protect and support religious minorities, ensure their safety and security, and penalize the perpetrators who have already destroyed property and inflicted physical and psychological harm on these communities.

• We urge the interim government to end the violent Bengali settler colonial suppression of indigenous communities. We demand an end to the long-standing institutional and militaristic destruction of indigenous lands, lives, and resources.

• We urge the interim government to revive and reinvent the public sector and restrict the unregulated expansion of the private sector. We specifically demand the allocation of necessary resources to strengthen our public education, public healthcare, and public transportation systems.

• We urge the interim government to strengthen social security and safety nets for vulnerable communities. We urge them to start developing schemes for providing emergency food support, unemployment support, support during natural calamities, disability benefits, and universal old age and retirement benefits.

• We urge the interim government to take necessary steps to protect and strengthen existing labor laws and labor rights of workers, ensure decent and safe working conditions, remove barriers towards unionizing, and initiate a national minimum living wage for workers in all economic sectors.

• We urge the interim government to prioritize transforming to a low-carbon economy and ensure the rights to clean air, water, and environment for the citizens. It should set a goal of transitioning to zero net emissions and switching from gas, coal, and fossil fuel-based power plants to non-nuclear, clean, and renewable sources of power.  The interim government should support the growth of green jobs and green economic opportunities – specifically for disadvantaged communities.

• We urge the interim government to amend all repressive laws including the Cyber Security Act (CSA) and stop all forms of digital surveillance as they are barriers to the freedom of expression and human dignity and indicate the failure of law enforcement agencies and gross oppression by a government. We call for forming an autonomous body comprising technical specialists, members of civil society, educators, and journalists to monitor the spreading of false information and hostility across online platforms to ensure safe and equitable digital spaces. This autonomous body will also monitor the activities of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) to ensure uninterrupted, transparent, and safe internet service across the country.

• We urge the interim government to facilitate careful preservation of historical artifacts and rewriting historical narratives centering the voices from the margin. We are concerned about the indiscriminate destruction of sculptures and historical artifacts following the fall of the authoritarian regime. We acknowledge that destroying colonial artifacts, which embody histories of oppression and discrimination, could be an act of resistance. However, the countrywide indiscriminate destruction of historical and artistic artifacts with the intention of erasing critical historical evidence, establishing orthodox views, or simply showcasing newly gained political power is devoid of a transformative vision, and require critical intervention.

• We urge the interim government to offer the necessary time, space, and resources for the creation and successful outreach of new political parties led by progressive forces and the youth. We are alarmed about the possibility of an election coming up too soon because this would very likely hand over unrestrained power to a single established political party, thereby destroying the check and balance of state power and authority. More time is needed for younger political activists to organize to contest elections. 

To repeat:  as progressive and decolonial feminists, we advocate for an egalitarian Bangladesh, where people – regardless of their gender, sex, sexuality, class, caste, religion, nationality, ethnicity, language, color, age, ability, or geographic location – will enjoy full freedom, equity, and justice. And the time to start working towards that is right now.

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