Thousands of Bangladeshi Islamists rallied in Dhaka on Saturday, one of their biggest public shows of strength in years as religious activism surges.

Islamist groups have gained strength after the toppling of the iron-fisted regime of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, opposing attempts at reforms they say are un-Islamic.

Hefazat-e-Islam -- an influential pressure group made up of multiple political parties, Muslim organisations and religious schools -- issued a string of demands at Saturday's rally, including the abolishment of a government women's commission seeking equality.