Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a women’s grand rally at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on 31 January to protest the nationwide harassment, assault, and torture of its female activists.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher made the announcement at a press conference at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar on Tuesday.
Taher alleged that BNP activists are harassing female workers in various regions of the country. He further said that despite seeking the intervention of local administrations and informing the Election Commission, no effective measures have been taken to address these incidents.
Taher warned that tougher programmes may be announced at the upcoming Dhaka rally if the situation is not addressed.
Defending the party’s platform, the Jamaat leader said that as a religion-based party, it is natural for them to discuss religion, much like the BNP promotes the ideology of Ziaur Rahman or leftist parties advocate communism.
Those accusing Jamaat of seeking votes under the “guise of religion” are misrepresenting the facts and creating opportunities for the harassment of women, he alleged.
During the press conference, a video presentation was shown detailing nine recent incidents of harassment and violence against their activists.
ATM Masum, assistant secretary general and head of the Election Management Committee, and Ahsanul Mahboob Jubair, assistant secretary general and head of the Publicity Department, were also present at the event.
