A delegation of women leaders and representatives from 11 organizations met with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday to demand the immediate cancellation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s candidacy.
The move comes in response to what the leaders described as "defamatory, hateful, and misogynistic" remarks regarding working women posted from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
During the meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban, the group submitted a formal memorandum outlining four key demands, including a public apology and strict disciplinary action by the Election Commission (EC).
Speaking to reporters, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party President Moshrefa Mishu stated that the comments were a direct assault on the dignity and social contributions of millions of working women in Bangladesh.
“The recent derogatory, ugly, and misogynistic comments made by Shafiqur Rahman... are not only an extreme insult to women but also a direct denial of the labour, honour, and social role of the country's crores of working, self-respecting and contributing women,” she said.
While Jamaat-e-Islami has attributed the controversial posts to a "hacking" incident, the women’s rights leaders rejected this explanation.
Mishu pointed out that no transparent investigation or documentary evidence has been provided to support the hacking claim, especially for a verified account.
She further noted that initial law enforcement reports regarding an arrest at Bangabhaban were later met with contradictory statements, fueling public skepticism over the party's defense.
The memorandum emphasizes that such rhetoric violates constitutional guarantees of equality and human rights, posing a threat to the safety and working environment of women, particularly those in the garment sector who drive the national economy.
The leaders argued that making such statements in a public forum fuels discrimination and violence, rendering the speaker unfit for political leadership under the EC's code of conduct.
The delegation included notable figures such as Dhaka University Professor Samina Luthfa, Shabnam Hafiz of Garments Sramik Mukti Andolan, and representatives from Naripokkha, Rastra Sangskar Andolan and the Women’s Political Rights Forum.
They have called for an unconditional apology to all working women and a commitment to refrain from demeaning women’s labour in the future, alongside the primary demand for the EC to disqualify Dr. Shafiqur Rahman from the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election.
With Inputs from UNB
