Jamaat-e-Islami’s women’s wing on Sunday asserted that women cannot become Amir of the party, arguing that Jamaat’s structure is rooted in Islamic principles where men lead, and women participate within that framework.
The party’s women’s wing secretary, Nurunnisa Siddika, made the remarks on Sunday, saying, “We are an Islamic party. Men are the directors of women. We entered politics accepting this reality.”
The comments came on the same day Jamaat’s women’s wing held its first-ever formal meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, marking a rare moment of direct engagement between the Election Commission and female leaders of the Islamist party.
The hour-long meeting took place at the Election Commission building in Agargaon around 3:30 pm.
Along with Nurunnisa Siddika, women’s wing assistant secretary Sayeeda Rumman, and members Marzia Begum and Dr Habiba Chowdhury Sweet featured the delegation. Jamaat Assistant Secretary Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair and Election Steering Committee member Oliullah Noman were also present.
Rejecting the idea that women’s empowerment depends on occupying top leadership positions, Nurunnisa Siddika said previous female prime ministers had failed to bring meaningful progress for women.
“Jamaat believes in development and empowerment of women, not symbolism,” she said.
Habiba Chowdhury Sweet said Jamaat has already fielded female candidates in local government elections and claimed women would gradually rise to stronger positions within the party, including contesting parliamentary seats in the future.
Following the meeting, Jamaat’s women leaders alleged widespread attacks on female party activists during election campaigns. They claimed women campaigners were being threatened, harassed, and targeted through cyberbullying.
“We are facing coordinated online abuse. Fake IDs using the names of top party leaders are being created to spread obscene and sarcastic comments,” one leader said, adding that preparations had been made under the Cyber Security Act to pursue legal action.
The delegation submitted documents and video evidence of attacks on women in at least 15 locations across the country to the Election Commission and demanded accountability.
“This is the first time the women’s wing has come directly to the EC,” they said. “We represent half the population. We want a fair environment to vote and campaign. Some forces are trying to silence us because they do not like women becoming organised.”
The women leaders said they would resist any attempt to obstruct their political activities.
“They cannot stop us by force. We have courage and faith. We will not accept any obstacle,” they said, expressing hope that the government and Election Commission would ensure a peaceful and credible election.
The meeting comes at a sensitive political moment, as debates over women’s leadership, party ideology, and election security continue to intensify ahead of the polls.