A party demeans women, wants them confined to homes: Tarique

Indicating Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday accused it of belittling women after August 5 and attempting to confine “mothers and sisters” within their homes through unethical practices.

Addressing an election rally at the Jashore Upashahar Degree College Ground, Tarique alleged that activists of the party were collecting women’s National ID and bKash numbers in an attempt to manipulate the election process.

“How can those who make dishonest proposals establish the rule of honest people?” he questioned.

Referring to recent remarks made by a Jamaat leader, Tarique said the party chief had spoken to foreign media about how women would be treated if he came to power, while only a day earlier making objectionable comments about working women.

“Those who can insult half of the country’s population cannot bring anything good for the people,” he said, adding that the claim of the social media account being hacked was “nothing but a lie.”

“After that excuse, more statements were circulated from the same account. They are lying to protect themselves. Those who lie so openly can never be friends of the people,” he added.

The BNP chairman said former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia made girls’ education free to empower women and vowed that if BNP forms the government, family cards would be provided to mothers and sisters to ensure economic security.

Tarique further alleged that, just as people’s voting rights were taken away through “dummy voting” and “midnight elections” in the past, a party has now begun similar efforts to disrupt the upcoming polls. “Anyone trying to benefit from vote manipulation must be stopped,” he said.

Highlighting development plans, he said the GK project would be restarted to re-excavate the Ulasi Canal and other canals and embankments dug during the tenure of martyred President Ziaur Rahman to address waterlogging in the region.

“If BNP forms the government, all necessary projects will be undertaken to change the fate of the common people,” he said.

Tarique also promised state honourariums for imams, muezzins and priests of other religions, stressing that BNP would build the country with people of all faiths—Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.

He announced plans to export Jashore’s flowers and revive sugar mills in the region if the BNP comes to power.

During the rally, Tarique formally handed over the sheaf of paddy symbol to BNP-nominated candidates from 22 constituencies across seven districts in the Jashore-Kushtia region and urged voters to ensure their victory.

The rally was presided over by Jashore District BNP President Advocate Syed Saberul Haque Sabu and conducted by District BNP General Secretary Delwar Hossain Khokon. Several senior BNP leaders addressed the gathering.

Earlier in the day, the rally venue turned into a sea of processions as leaders and activists arrived with banners, festoons and party flags. By 12:30pm, the ground was filled to capacity.