A group of women leaders on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission revoke the candidacy of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman for his ‘defamatory, hateful and misogynistic remarks against working women’ made from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
The demand was raised during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
The delegation also submitted a memorandum from 11 women organisations to the CEC outlining four key demands including the cancellation of the Jamaat chief’s candidacy.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party President Moshrefa Mishu said the recent comments made by Dr Shafiqur Rahman amounted to a gross insult to women and undermined their dignity, labour and contribution to society.
“The recent derogatory, ugly and misogynistic comments made by Shafiqur Rahman about working women from his verified X account 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.
She said though the party concerned explained that the comment is as the result of ‘hacking’, this claim can’t be accepted for such remark published on a verified X account.
No official statement, documentary evidence, or results of a transparent investigation have been made public on this matter, she added.
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Referring to media reports, Moshrefa Mishu said a Bangabhaban staff was initially shown arrested in connection with the alleged hacking, but contradictory statements later emerged from law enforcement agencies.
Subsequently, officials informed that no concrete evidence was found linking the detained person to the hacking incident, which intensified doubt on the hacking claim, she said.
She said the working women in different sectors including garment industry have been making significant contributions to their families, society and the national economy through their hard works over the past several decades.
“Making such statements in public that undermine working women goes directly against constitutionally guaranteed equality, human rights, women’s dignity and social justice,” she said.
Mishu said that such remarks fuel hatred, discrimination and violence against women and pose serious threats to the safety, dignity and working environment of women workers.
“Such irresponsible comments from someone holding a political leadership position are completely unacceptable,” she said.
They in the memorandum placed a total of four demands that include immediate withdrawal of the derogatory remarks; an unconditional apology to working women; a clear commitment to refrain from making any future statements that demean women’s dignity and labour; and appropriate action by the Election Commission in line with its code of conduct and ethical standards including cancellation of the candidacy of the person.
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Alongside Mishu, 10 other women and woman organisations are Dhaka University professor Samina Luthfa, Garments Sramik Mukti Andolan President Shabnam Hafiz, NPA spokesperson Ferdous Ara Rumi, organiser of the Women’s Political Rights Forum Nafisa Raihana, and women affairs secretary of Rastra Sangskar Andolan Zakiya Shishir, lawyer and rights activist Tabassum Mehenaj Mimi, president of Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation Sultana Begum, Central Member of Janobhashya Shamim Ara Nipa, Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Marjia Prova as well as Naripokkha.