As Bangladesh prepares to go to the polls, the country’s most controversial party, Jamaat-e-Islami, is not fielding any woman candidate. Female politicians are defending the move by citing ‘Islamic principles’
As
Bangladesh prepares for the highly anticipated general election,
Jamaat-e-Islami Women’s Wing Secretary Nurunnisa Siddika said women are barred from assuming the leadership position in the party. Siddika shared the discriminatory rule of the party while speaking to journalists at the Election Commission (EC) premises, The Dhaka Tribune reported.
She went on to justify the party by insisting that prohibiting women from a leadership role in the party is aligned with Islamic principles, which do not permit women to serve as ameer. While speaking to reporters, Siddika said that Jamaat-e-Islami is an organisation guided by Islamic ideals and therefore abides by what it interprets as Quranic directives.
“According to the Quran, men are directors of women, which is considered a command and obligation in Islam,” she said, adding that as a result, women cannot hold the top leadership position in any Islamic organisation.
Jamaat is fielding no female candidate for the Bangladesh elections
She insisted that Jamaat conduct its organisational activities in line with the principle. The remarks came when the Jamaat politician was asked why the party had not fielded any female candidates in the upcoming
parliamentary elections. Siddika described it as an “internal organisational decision.”
She attempted to brush it under the carpet by insisting that the debate should not centre on whether women occupy top posts, but on whether women’s rights, dignity and security are being ensured. “In the past 54 years, Bangladesh has had two female prime ministers for long periods. But have women’s problems been solved? Has violence against women decreased? Have women’s rights been established?” she exclaimed.
Siddika justified women being barred from contesting polls by claiming that merely appointing women to top positions does not automatically improve women’s overall condition. “Real change comes when leadership—whether male or female—is humane and ensures dignity for all,” she said, adding that Jamaat prioritises establishing just and humane leadership rather than appointing women to the highest posts.
Jamaat Women’s Wing chief Habiba Chowdhury soon jumped in by pointing out that while women make up nearly half of the Bangladesh population, many have been unable to exercise their voting rights. According to The Dhaka Tribune, Chowdhury claimed that at least 15 incidents of attacks on female Jamaat activists in different districts had been reported to the EC, alleging a political vendetta behind the incidents.
Earlier in the day, a six-member Jamaat delegation led by Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin to discuss contemporary electoral issues.
End of Article
