India, May 2 -- Islamist parties in Bangladesh have demanded the immediate abolition of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, a move clearly showing the way hardliners are gaining ground in the South Asian country following the fall of the former PM Sheikh Hasina-led regime in 2024.

Blaming the women's commission's recommendations are inspired by Western ideologies and contradict Bangladesh's social realities, the parties warned the interim government that it would not hesitate to begin a nationwide campaign to press their demands.

The observations were on Wednesday during a national seminar titled "Islamophobia of the Women Reform Commission and our responsibilities", held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka.

The seminar...