BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has termed Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s claim of his social media account being hacked as “mysterious,” questioning how an account could be hacked for such a short period of time.“Claiming that an ID was hacked for a brief time raises serious questions. This is indeed mysterious,” Rizvi said, adding that no one would remain silent if half of the population of society is portrayed in a distorted and derogatory manner.
He made the remarks on Monday (February 2) while addressing a protest rally organized by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan.
Following the rally, a protest procession was brought out from Nayapaltan, which marched through Nightingale Mor and later returned to the BNP central office premises.
Rizvi said such comments about women amount to outright disrespect. “One can easily understand from such behavior how women might be treated in the future. Using religion as a political tool to target women is completely unacceptable,” he stated.
Referring to Jamaat Ameer’s interview with Al Jazeera, Rizvi criticized the remark that women could become members of parliament but not party chiefs. “Such statements are clearly discriminatory. Jamaat has never struggled for democracy or freedom,” he said.
Warning that women’s rights would be curtailed if Jamaat comes to power, the BNP senior leader remarked, “In some places, the most grotesque form of religious politics is being witnessed. As the ‘card of heaven’ has failed, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has resorted to making offensive remarks about women.”
He also alleged that a culture of mob violence has been created in universities. “There is a country where women’s education has been stopped altogether. Looking at their mindset, it appears they would attempt the same if they came to power,” Rizvi added.
BNP Standing Committee member Begum Selima Rahman also addressed the rally.
Among others present at the programme were Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas, General Secretary Sultana Ahmed, Joint General Secretary Helen Zerin Khan, Office Secretary Shahinur Nargis, Publicity Secretary Tahmina Afrin Nita, and central leaders of the organization.