In a city where women walk through streets lined with judgment and silence, where harassment hides behind normalcy, a group of artists decided to fight back. Not with protests or politics, they chose to fight with brush and paint.
On October 30, 2025, the “Cartoon for Equality” festival opened at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, a 10-day event by Cartoon People in collaboration with UN Women. The festival uses the visual power of cartoons to challenge gender-based violence and discrimination, reminding visitors that creativity can be a force of resistance.
“This year, the UN Women reached out to us,” said Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, the founder of Cartoon People. “After witnessing the massive wave of oppression targeting women, we felt the pressure in our minds to do something. We also felt that it is the right time to collaborate and bring something forward.”
The festival is far more than an art exhibition. It featured a dynamic mix of art, animation, workshops, gaming, caricaturing, etc. Visitors were not merely spectators, they were participants in a dialogue about equality, opportunity and creative freedom.
Shammon Nawar Parapar, one of the organisers, remarked, “We have based many games on gender roles designed to break stereotypes. We want to send this message to people in a fun way.”
“While many submissions were urban-based, some artists came to us who wanted to work at all levels. For instance, the ‘Cycle of Abuse’ installation is based on a rural story that has been repeated through generations. Many people are relating to the way this loop is presented,” she explained.
Among the exhibits stands a touching piece, a giant embroidered letter written to a mother. Nusrat Laxmi, the artist of this project, shared her experience, “My mother used to learn singing when I was little. But after marriage, she gave up music and studies. I saw her dreams fade, and that stayed with me.”
“We are all products of patriarchy, and sometimes my mother says things that hurt me. This might be her trauma response, where she tries to do that same thing to us, but I don’t deserve it. So, I wrote this letter to my mom,” she continued.
Cartoonist Shamse Ara Naher Mohona shared another stark reality: “About 76% of Bangladeshi women experience intimate partner violence. Most never report it because their families don’t support them. That hit me hard.”
She added, “Women should be able to say ‘no’, maybe this is tough now, but I believe this will change one day. Let’s hope at least one girl will get inspired to say NO by our cartoons. At this point, that’s even a lot.”
Another artist, Ishmam, focused on cyberbullying: “I’ve seen how women get attacked online just for expressing opinions or dressing how they want. It’s unfair. Everyone should have equal rights to speak, to appear, to exist freely.”
For many visitors, the experience was deeply personal. “It’s such a needed initiative,” said Progga, a visitor. “Almost every artwork feels like it’s speaking for me; for all of us. People should talk about these issues louder and more often.”
The festival stands as a reminder that change can begin with a drawing, a dialogue, or even a defiant line of ink. Cartoon People’s message is clear. It’s time women recognise their worth, and society learns to respect it. Through art, they’re proving that equality isn’t just a dream, it’s something we can draw into reality.
