Women leaders urge CEC to cancel Jamaat Ameer’s candidacy

A group of women leaders has formally requested Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin to cancel Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s candidacy.

Moshrefa Mishu, general secretary of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, made the urge at the Election Commission office today (February 8).

The move comes following derogatory and misogynistic comments he made about working women on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.

"The remarks not only insult women but also undermine the contributions, dignity, and social role of millions of working women in Bangladesh," she said.

While the party later claimed the account had been “hacked,” Mishu argued that such a defense cannot be accepted for statements made from a verified account.

She added that no official statement, credible evidence, or transparent investigation results have been made public by the platform.

Conflicting information from law enforcement regarding the alleged hacking—initial reports of an arrest followed by officials stating no evidence linked the individual to hacking—further casts doubt on the claim.

Highlighting the decades-long contribution of women, particularly in the garment sector, Mishu said the statements contradict constitutional principles of equality, human rights, women’s dignity, and social justice.

She warned that such remarks promote misogyny, discrimination, and a culture of hostility, threatening the safety, dignity, and work environment of female workers.

The appeal also outlined four demands: Immediate public retraction of the derogatory statements, unconditional apology to working women and female laborers, clear commitment to refrain from future statements undermining women’s dignity and labour, election Commission action under ethical and conduct guidelines, including cancellation of his candidacy.

The delegation included Dhaka University professor Samina Lutfa, Garment Workers’ Liberation Movement President Shabnam Hafiz, NPA spokesperson Ferdous Ara Rumi, Nafisa Raihana of the Women’s Political Rights Forum, and lawyer Tabassum Mehenaz Mimi.