Jamaat-Shibir threatening BNP women activists, alleges Rizvi

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that Jamaat-Shibir members are regularly threatening BNP women activists both online and offline and harassing them physically and mentally.

He made the allegation at a press conference held at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan on January 30 alongside victimised women activists.

Rizvi said a political group is using religion through organised online groups to make obscene and derogatory comments about women in the country. He said people would no longer tolerate secret activities by such groups.

He also said Jamaat does not have any female parliamentary candidates and alleged that women would suffer the most if the party comes to power. He claimed the party’s amir has publicly stated that its top leadership position can never be held by a woman.

Rizvi questioned the party’s leadership, saying they are unclear about their own stance. He said the party talks about reducing women’s working hours but denied making such statements in an interview with Al Jazeera, which he said creates confusion among the public.

Mentioning women’s participation in the garments sector, Rizvi said women constitute 55 per cent of the workforce in the sector and questioned whether men have no responsibility in child-rearing.

Jahangirnagar University professor Nahrin Islam alleged at the press conference that a particular political party wants to confine women inside their homes. She claimed the party uses women to seek votes and sell promises of paradise.

Jagannath University Chhatra Dal joint convener Khadijatul Kobra was also present at the press conference.