BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Tuesday that the “true character” of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is being exposed through its recent derogatory remarks about women.
He made the comments at a Milad and Doa Mahfil organised by the BNP at its Naya Paltan central office to mark Shab-e-Barat.
Rizvi alleged that Jamaat is now trying to divert attention from public backlash by creating controversy over the proclaimer of independence, adding that distasteful and insulting comments about women on the social media platform X have triggered nationwide anger among women.
Addressing the Jamaat ameer, he said the party supported and patronised atrocities against women committed by Pakistani forces during the Liberation War, questioning with what motive Jamaat leaders are now raising the issue of the declaration of independence.
He said Jamaat may one day even claim Golam Azam as the proclaimer of independence, arguing that the party has never hesitated to lie.
Referring to a recent event in Chattogram, Rizvi said the Jamaat ameer attempted to portray Oli Ahmad, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, as the proclaimer of independence, noting that Oli Ahmad himself has never made such a claim throughout his professional or military career.
He said the public would not accept politically motivated narratives manufactured for gain, adding that established historical truths cannot be concealed by creating confusion.
Rizvi said that despite later attempts to explain away the controversial social media remarks, Jamaat’s attitude towards women has drawn widespread condemnation.
He said Islam grants women the highest dignity, but some groups misuse religion for political or commercial interests, adding that while Bangladeshi Muslims follow Islam as a way of life, hypocrisy in the name of faith only deepens social decay.
He said attempts to use the independence issue to deflect criticism over misogynistic remarks would fail, as responsibility for insulting women cannot be avoided.
