A group of women leaders on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, demanding the cancellation of Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration and the candidacy of its Amir, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, over alleged derogatory comments about women.
The delegation met the CEC at the Election Commission building and handed over a written application outlining their concerns, said Ganatantrik Biplabi Party General Secretary Mushrefa Mishu.
They argued that Jamaat’s stance on women’s leadership contradicts the spirit of the Liberation War, the Constitution and democratic values.
According to the leaders, remarks posted from Dr Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X account were “misogynistic” and insulting to working women.
Although Jamaat later claimed the account had been hacked, they said the explanation lacked credible proof and no transparent investigation findings had been made public.
Mishu said media reports mentioned the detention of a Bangabhaban employee over alleged hacking, but law enforcement later stated that no concrete evidence was found, raising further doubts about the claim.
The memorandum noted that women, particularly garment workers and professionals across sectors, play a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economy and society.
Public statements undermining their contribution, the leaders said, violate constitutional principles of equality and dignity.
The delegation placed four demands before the Election Commission: a public withdrawal of the remarks, an unconditional apology to working women, a commitment to refrain from similar statements in the future, and action under the EC’s code of conduct, including cancellation of the candidacy.
Among those present at the meeting were Dhaka University professor Samina Lutfa, Garment Shramik Mukti Andolan president Shabnam Hafiz, NPA spokesperson Ferdous Ara Rumi, Narir Rajnaitik Adhikar Forum organiser Nafisa Raihana and rights activist lawyer Tabassum Mehnaz Mimi.
They also questioned the credibility of the hacking claim, arguing that statements conflicting with constitutional guarantees of gender equality should not be tolerated in politics.