Protests erupted at Dhaka University (DU) and Jagannath University (JnU) today over allegations that Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman made derogatory remarks about working women in a post from his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Around 12:00pm, leaders and activists from different units of Chhatra Dal marched from Madhur Canteen of DU campus and traversed through the Arts Building, Raju Sculpture and DU central mosque before ending with a brief rally at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla.
At the rally, speakers demanded a public apology from Shafiqur for his comments about women.
They chanted slogans such as: “Women are not prostitutes, Shafiq must apologise,” “Do you know, Shafique, half the strength of the nation is women,” “You called them prostitutes and now claim your ID was hacked,” “Break the black hands of oppressors,” and “Break the black hands of the razakars.”
JCD Central Joint Secretary Sayera Chandra Chakma said, “They [Jamaat] view working women as prostitutes. They have assaulted women at Chattogram University and Dhaka University, and they do not see women as equals, but as servants.”
She added, “You [Jamaat] will not be able to confine women to their homes again, and must offer a public apology with folded hands.”
JCD Central Joint General Secretary, Mansura Alam, said Jamaat’s stance on women has been evident over the years. “When women make up 52 percent of the voters, how can they call them prostitutes and still claim the right to do politics?”
JCD’s DU unit General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon alleged that Jamaat continues to shame women despite their role in national progress. “Nearly half of the voters of this country are working women. By humiliating them, they have no moral right to do politics in Bangladesh.”
Central General Secretary of JCD, Nasiruddin Nasir, questioned Jamaat’s claim that the X account of the Jamaat ameer was hacked.
JCD Central President Rakibul Islam Rakib said, “We demand exemplary punishment and call on him [Jamaat ameer] to apologise. If he does not, we will announce tougher programmes.”
Meanwhile, students of Jagannath University (JnU) also held a protest rally at the university’s Shanto Chattar around noon, condemning the same post of Jamaat ameer’s X handle.
Several female activists of JnU unit JCD were also present at the rally.
Farzana Akter Tumpa, president of Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani hall unit JCD and cultural and publication secretary of hall sangsad said, “We strongly condemn the vulgar comments made about women by the Jamaat ameer while holding a responsible position.”
Khadijatul Kubra, joint convener of JnU unit JCD, said, “Equating working women with prostitution is unacceptable in any way.”
“Such a mindset is a gross insult to women,” she added.