Dhaka, April 26 -- A section of society reacts with fear when women become active, Democratic Rights Committee President Anu Muhammad has said.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Eight Months of Interim Government: Role and Reform Proposals" in Dhaka's Bijoynagar on Saturday afternoon, he said: "When women become active, they feel as if everything has ended."

Anu, a former economics professor at Jahangirnagar University, said the issue is often cloaked in religion.

"Whether they practise religion or not, whenever women's issues come up, they immediately pull the religion card," he said. "It's used to stir up frenzy and incite violence."

Criticising the interim government, Prof Anu said: "What were the people's main demands over the past...