Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has pledged to reduce the working hours for women if his party comes to power. He also dismissed the long-held allegation that Jamaat would confine women to their homes if elected, saying humorously,“People accuse us of planning to lock women inside their homes, but where would we get the money to buy so many locks?”Dr. Shafiqur Rahman made these remarks during a civic reception organized in his honor in New York on Sunday (October 26), hosted by the Coalition of Bangladeshi Americans. During his speech, the Jamaat chief said that the people of Bangladesh want to see a visible verdict in the July killings before the current government’s tenure ends.

“Whoever assumes power next must ensure a just conclusion to those cases,” he added.

Dr. Rahman also emphasized that, if elected, his party would expand investment opportunities across the country to boost economic growth.

Addressing the issue of working women, he said mothers not only give birth and nurse their children but also fulfill their professional responsibilities simultaneously.
Calling equal eight-hour workdays for men and women “unfair to mothers,” he announced,

“If we come to power, we will reduce the working hours for mothers.”

Although he did not specify the exact reduction, the Jamaat chief suggested that working hours could be reduced from eight to five hours for women.