Точка Синхронізації

Women’s rights activists and secular citizens staged a vocal torchlight procession through the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, this week to express urgent concerns over the rising political influence of the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the upcoming national elections on Thursday. Following the recent collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing administration, the country is preparing for what has been promised as its first free and fair democratic exercise in 17 years. However, the potential for a hardline religious party to secure an unprecedented share of the vote has triggered fears that hard-won social liberties and gender equality could be systematically dismantled under a new conservative coalition. For nearly two decades, Jamaat-e-Islami faced intense structural oppression and legal crackdowns under the secularist rule of the Awami League. With the sudden vacuum left by Hasina’s departure, the party has successfully mobilized its base, positioning itself as a significant power broker in the transitional political landscape. This resurgence has created a polarized environment where the joy of democratic renewal is being tempered by the anxiety of marginalized groups who fear a return to traditionalist restrictions on women's mobility, employment, and legal protections. The demonstrations in the capital highlight a deepening rift between those advocating for a secular democratic future and those pushing for a more religious-centric governance model. Protesters marching at midnight emphasized that the "blood" shed during recent civil unrest was intended to secure total equality and liberation for all citizens, not to pave the way for a restrictive ideological shift. As international observers turn their eyes toward Thursday's ballot, the central question remains whether Bangladesh can balance its newfound electoral freedom with the protection of minority rights and secular values in a volatile post-authoritarian era.