Women’s and human rights advocates gathered at a demonstration yesterday to denounce what they labeled as misogynistic politics and hateful rhetoric from Jamaat-e-Islami leaders. The groups accused the party of openly degrading women in the workforce and promoting discrimination under the guise of religion.
During the protest, Manisha Majumder, representing Naripokkho, highlighted recent comments made by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, who likened working women to “prostitutes.” She also referenced a previous statement where he referred to working women as “kamla” and advised young men to bring “queens” home instead of “laborers.”
With the upcoming parliamentary election looming, the organizations criticized the government and the Election Commission for remaining silent on misogynistic remarks and behaviors during the campaign period. They called for immediate action against any candidate or party engaging in such speech and behavior, as well as an end to the exploitation of religion for political purposes.
The demonstration, organized by the International Women’s Day Celebration Committee, comprised 61 women’s and human rights organizations and took place in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka. Similar protests occurred simultaneously in 50 districts outside the capital, led by Durbar Network and local partners.
The protest aimed to combat misogyny and the politicization of religion while advocating for equality and democracy in Bangladesh for women, men, and individuals of the third gender. Bangladesh currently employs 23.7 million women across various sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, garment manufacturing, banking, and domestic work.
According to Manisha, the derogatory comments made by the Jamaat leader targeted nearly 25 million working women. The demonstrators also referenced an interview where Shafiqur Rahman stated that no woman could lead Jamaat-e-Islami due to inherent gender differences.
Speakers highlighted that Bangladesh has been governed by female prime ministers for over three decades, while criticizing Jamaat-e-Islami for not nominating any women candidates in parliamentary elections, despite agreeing to allocate a percentage of nominations to women.
Despite no explicit exclusion of women from leadership positions in Jamaat, the party practices exclusionary policies in reality. The statement also cited disparaging remarks made by other Jamaat leaders and criticized the portrayal of an “ideal woman” narrative at Dhaka University.
The women’s and human rights activists demanded the withdrawal of the offensive remarks, a public apology to working women, and the cancellation of the Jamaat leader’s candidacy. They expressed skepticism over claims of hacking regarding a controversial social media post attributed to Shafiqur Rahman.
The memorandum emphasized the vital contributions of working women to Bangladesh’s economy and society while condemning statements that undermine their dignity and equality. Such rhetoric perpetuates a culture of discrimination and violence against women, jeopardizing their safety and well-being.
The memorandum was submitted by a group of activists, including representatives from various women’s rights organizations and advocacy groups.
