Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's women's wing will hold a "protest rally" at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on January 31, marking the party's first large-scale gathering of female leaders and activists in Dhaka.
The programme was announced on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference held at the party's central office in Mogbazar by Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.
According to the organisers, the rally will be held in protest against what Jamaat described as "attacks, harassment and intimidation" of its women leaders and activists during election campaigning across the country. The event will be organised by the Jamaat Women's Wing to protest the gendered attacks.
Addressing the press conference, Taher said women activists of Jamaat would stage an open protest at Suhrawardy Udyan against alleged attacks on them during the ongoing election campaign.
"If the Election Commission and the government fail to take note of these incidents, the Jamaat Women's Wing will announce further programmes. At the same time, the 11-party electoral alliance will also announce actions," he said.
Taher also referred to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which requires political parties to ensure 33 percent representation of women.
"Only Jamaat has been able to fulfil this condition. Despite this, our opponents are trying to establish propaganda that women are not given importance in Jamaat," he claimed.
He also said Jamaat enjoys strong support among women voters across the country. "Women are peace-loving and do not like disorder and extremism. That is why women will vote more for Jamaat," Taher said.
Claiming that Jamaat's women activists are playing an active role nationwide, he alleged that rival political forces had become alarmed.
"They have realised that the activities of our women's wing will surpass their entire campaign. That is why women are being attacked, harassed and intimidated across the country to create a climate of fear," he said.
Taher also criticised the government, saying ensuring women's safety and dignity is its responsibility.
"Ironically, those who speak most loudly about women's rights and freedom are now attacking women for political reasons," he alleged, adding that threats were being issued to women against voting for Jamaat.
Replying to a journalist's question, Taher directly blamed activists of the BNP for the alleged attacks on Jamaat's women activists.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General ATM Ma'sum, head of the party's publicity and media department Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, election management committee member Oliullah Noman, among others, were present at the press conference.
