Women’s Groups Petition Election Commission to Cancel Jamaat Ameer’s Candidacy
The delegation, which met with the Chief Election Commissioner in Agargaon, accused the Jamaat chief of violating the electoral code of conduct by disseminating misogynistic and derogatory remarks about working women through his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
The controversy stems from a post made on January 31, which reportedly labeled women working outside their homes as being subjected to "a form of prostitution." Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Moshrefa Mishu, General Secretary of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, described the comments as a direct assault on the dignity of millions of self-reliant women in Bangladesh. The coalition of women’s groups, which includes members such as Dhaka University Professor Samina Lutfu and Garment Workers' Liberation Movement President Shabnam Hafiz, demanded an immediate retraction of the statement and an unconditional public apology from Dr. Rahman.
In response to the backlash, Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed the account was compromised by hackers. Following a party complaint, law enforcement agencies arrested Mohammad Sarwar-e-Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the cyberattack. However, the petitioning women's groups have expressed skepticism regarding the "hacking" defense. Moshrefa Mishu noted that police have provided conflicting information about the arrest, and she argued that the Jamaat leader must still be held accountable for the platform's content during the election period.
The memorandum outlines a four-point demand, including a commitment from the candidate to refrain from such rhetoric in the future. The activists warned that failing to take action against such "hate speech" would encourage violence against women and undermine their safety in the workplace. The Election Commission has acknowledged receipt of the memorandum and stated that it will review the allegations in accordance with existing electoral laws and regulations.
