A group of Dhaka University (DU) students held a ‘broom procession’ on Sunday to protest a social media post by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, which they characterised as derogatory toward working women.
The demonstration, which began around 2pm at Raju Memorial Sculpture, featured female leaders from various student organisations.
The protesters, carrying brooms, chanted slogans such as “Boycott, boycott—Boycott Jamaat Ameer” and “Hit the misogynist on both cheeks with a broom”.
Their banners and speeches called for the dignity of women’s labour and the abolition of the “prostitution system”.
The controversy stems from a post made on the platform X on 31 January, in which the Jamaat Ameer allegedly likened women working outside their homes to prostitution.
In a joint statement, Bangladesh Chhatra Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza and General Secretary Bahauddin Shuvo, alongside Socialist Student Front President Mukta Barai and General Secretary Raihan Uddin, condemned the remarks as a reflection of the party’s long-standing ideology.
They highlighted that women comprise 51 percent of the population, with 40 lakh women making up 80 percent of the garment sector’s workforce, and warned that such comments create hurdles and harassment for working women.
Addressing the rally, Seema Akhter stated that women in Bangladesh face online bullying and attacks from fake and bot accounts linked to a specific political party whenever they advocate for their rights.
Another speaker emphasised that women have played vital roles in every historical struggle and crisis in the country, both at home and in public life, making the Ameer’s statement a clear manifestation of a misogynistic mindset.
Mukta Barai also addressed claims that the Jamaat leader’s account had been hacked, demanding that public proof be provided.
Meanwhile, Sushmita Sarkar argued that this was not an isolated incident, citing a previous comment by Shamim Ahsan, assistant secretary general of Barguna district Jamaat, who reportedly described DUCSU as a “brothel”.
She urged the public to respond to such rhetoric via the ballot in the upcoming elections.
The student leaders further linked this mindset to the actions of the Pakistani occupation forces and Jamaat-e-Islami during the 1971 Liberation War, noting the violation of over two lakh women. The protesters concluded the rally by demanding a public apology from the Jamaat Ameer and calling for a boycott of the party’s “vile politics”.
