Senior leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s women’s wing clarified the party’s stance on gender and leadership, asserting that women cannot hold the position of "Ameer" (Chief).
Nurunnisa Siddika , Secretary of the party’s Central Women’s Division, stated that Jamaat operates as an Islamic organization where men are viewed as the "guardians" and "directors" of women—a principle she said members accepted upon joining.
The hour-long meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban marked the first time in country's history that a delegation specifically from Jamaat’s female wing met with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), A.M.M. Nasir Uddin.
The delegation included Siddika, Assistant Secretary Saida Rumman, and members Marzia Begum and Dr. Habiba Chowdhury Sweet, accompanied by senior party leaders.
Addressing reporters after the session, Siddika argued that having a woman in the top leadership post does not inherently guarantee progress. "We have had two female Prime Ministers in the past, yet women's development did not follow," she said. “Has violence against women decreased? Have women’s rights been ensured?” she asked, adding that leadership should be judged by humanity and respect for all, regardless of gender.
“You know Jamaat-e-Islami is an Islamic organisation. An Islamic organisation will naturally follow Islam,” she said.
Citing a Quranic verse, she said Islam assigns leadership responsibility to men, which she described as a religious injunction. “Accordingly, women cannot come to the leadership of an Islamic organisation,” she added.
Nurunnisa Siddika said women in Jamaat had accepted this belief in faith and practice. “Whether women come to the top position is not important. What matters is whether women’s rights are being ensured,” she said.
While playing down the necessity of a female "Ameer," Dr. Habiba Chowdhury Sweet noted that women are increasingly proving their leadership in local elections and predicted that they would eventually contest parliamentary seats directly.
With women comprising 50% of the electorate, the Jamaat leaders emphasized the need for a peaceful environment on election day. They claimed that certain groups are conspiring to obstruct female voters out of "political vengeance." Despite the reported violence, the leaders remained defiant, stating that "force cannot stop our women" and that they would continue to protest and participate in the democratic process.
The main focus of the meeting was allegations of violence and intimidation targeting Jamaat's female activists during the ongoing election campaign ahead of the national parliamentary polls. The women's wing submitted a memorandum detailing 15 documented incidents of attacks, along with videos.
They claimed female members face physical assaults, threats, cyberbullying, and hacking of senior leaders' social media accounts to post derogatory content.
The leaders demanded that authorities identify and prosecute those responsible under relevant laws, including cyber security provisions. They expressed hope for a fair, peaceful, and inclusive election environment, describing the upcoming polls—combining two key elections—as critically important for the nation.
The delegation urged the Election Commission and government to take responsible steps to ensure women's safety and participation. They asserted that attempts to suppress female activists through force or conspiracy would fail, vowing to protest any obstacles. "We have courage and faith—we will not accept any barriers," they said.
The delegation also condemned the recent hacking of the Jamaat Ameer’s social media account, which was used to post distasteful comments about women. They urged the authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for these "premeditated conspiracies."
The Election Commission has reportedly assured the delegation that it will look into the complaints. The 13th National Parliamentary Election and the concurrent national referendum are scheduled for February 12.
PT/ra
