They also urged the authorities concerned to take steps to end all kinds of discrimination against women.

The rally was organised by Karmojibi Nari, an initiative for working women, at the Central Shaheed Minar to observe the Day of Resistance to Violence against Women.

The speakers called upon all political parties and progressive forces to forge greater unity against women repression, bomb and grenade attack, terrorism and communalism.

They expressed concern at the August 21 grenade attack on Awami League rally that killed 20 people including AL women leader Ivy Rahman and three other women.

Karmojibi Nari President Shirin Akhtar urged the government to form impartial probe commission to investigate the cases of women repression.

"We cannot depend on police investigations as women are still being raped and tortured in police custody," she added.

"Recently two police were sentenced to death in the verdict of the Yasmin Rape and Murder Case, but women repression is continuing in the country as usual," said Golam Kuddus, general secretary of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.

Bangladesh Mahila Parisad Leader Rekha Chowdhury urged the women to unite to resist the fanatics.

General Secretary of Karmojibi Nari Sharmin Kabir, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra Sultana Kamal, Human Rights Activist Alina Khan, Sammilito Nari Samaj Leader Sultana Akhtar Rubi and Assistant Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Sultan Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the rally.