As Bangladesh prepares for national elections this month, allegations have surfaced of systematic harassment and hate speech targeting Muslim women workers of the Jamaat-e-Islami – the country’s largest Islamic political party – by the secular BNP, writes Ahmed Daiyan.
The accusations centre on leaders and workers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the nation’s two major political forces, raising concerns about the safety of women in political participation.
The incidents come at a politically-charged moment for Bangladesh, where the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, who were longtime allies in a coalition against the ruling Awami League, now find themselves competing against each other in several constituencies.
This shift in political dynamics appears to have unleashed tensions that are manifesting in disturbing ways on the campaign trail.
Pattern of intimidation
In recent days during electoral campaigning, multiple BNP leaders and workers have been accused of using hateful, sexist and derogatory language against women aligned to Jamaat.
At public rallies and ground-level programmes, Jamaat women workers have been threatened with being “disrobed.” Several BNP leaders have issued threats to remove hijabs and hurled obscene, abusive language. In some instances, allegations have surfaced of women being slapped, mobile phones being snatched, and workers being barred from canvassing votes.
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At an electoral rally, a BNP women’s leader publicly urged citizens to call 999 and hand over to police anyone from Jamaat or its student organisation who visits their homes, effectively calling for their social isolation and endangerment.
Both online and offline, narratives have emerged forcing women to “stay at home,” making obscene comments in the name of religion, using derogatory analogies, and portraying women as politically incompetent and dangerous. Social media has seen religious misuse for indecent comments, slut-shaming and psychological harassment.
These statements and behaviors collectively appear to form a systematic strategy to create fear, shame, and social humiliation targeting Jamaat women workers.
Documented incidents
Chuadanga District: At a BNP electoral meeting, a party leader publicly threatened to “disrobe” Jamaat women workers. Speaking at the campaign rally in extremely distasteful language, he warned that if Jamaat women workers entered the area for electoral campaigning, BNP workers would “remove their sayas (clothing).”
The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (Jamaat’s student wing) condemned the incident as barbaric and cowardly. In a joint statement, Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam and Secretary General Sibgatullah called such statements a grave insult to social values, humanity, and all women.
Chapainawabganj District: On January 24, at a BNP electoral rally, a former MP urged voters to call 999 and report anyone from Jamaat’s student organisation who visits their homes.
During her speech, she made distasteful comments about Jamaat women workers, using belittling and demeaning analogies such as “minors” and “immature,” ridiculing women’s political participation.
Barguna District: In Barguna-2 constituency, Jamaat women workers alleged threats and obscene language from BNP leaders and workers during electoral campaigning.
Irani Akhter, Secretary of Jamaat’s Pathorghata Upazila Women’s Wing, stated that from January 22 onward, while women workers participated in electoral campaigning, followers of BNP-nominated candidate Nurul Islam Moni used obscene and offensive language against them.
According to allegations, in some cases, women workers were threatened at their homes, creating panic and disrupting normal electoral activities.
However, BNP-nominated candidate Nurul Islam Moni denied the allegations, stating that none of their leaders or workers were involved in the incident and calling the accusations politically motivated.
Natore District: During electoral canvassing in Natore-2 constituency, Jamaat women workers alleged being slapped and obstructed by BNP leaders and workers.
According to Jamaat’s statement, during peaceful canvassing at Chhatni Center intersection in Chhatni Union of Sadar Upazila, local BNP leaders blocked their path, slapped them, and threatened to remove the scale symbol’s banners and festoons. Local people later rescued the women workers, and police inspected the scene.
However, District BNP Convener Rahim Newaz denied the allegations, saying no one harassed Jamaat women workers; rather, locals obstructed them suspiciously.
Election Commission complaint
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has complained to the Election Commission that their women workers are facing harassment, attacks and humiliation in various locations while campaigning.
Particularly in Dhaka-15 constituency, women workers are being forced to remove hijabs, mobile phones are being confiscated, and they face indecent behaviour.
On January 26, a four-member Jamaat delegation discussed this complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner at the Election Commission in Agargaon.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher alleged that in various parts of the country during electoral campaigning, the party’s women workers are facing attacks, harassment, humiliation, and social disgrace. Such incidents have particularly occurred in Jashore, Chuadanga, Cumilla, Tangail, Lalmonirhat, and Bhola.
Taher called for prosecution of the guilty to ensure women’s safety, electoral security measures, legal action against hateful and provocative propaganda, and responsible roles from administration and media.
Regarding such misogynistic behavior toward women, Supreme Court lawyer and political analyst Sheikh Omar said: “Among BNP’s grassroots leaders and workers, a kind of instability, disorder, and lack of coordination is being observed regarding this election. They lack adequate preparation or homework on how to politically confront Jamaat’s women workers. Therefore, in some areas, such incidents of extremism or degrading behaviour are occurring sporadically.”
BNP response
Despite workers making misogynistic statements, on January 31 at an electoral rally at BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj, BNP Chairman Tarek Rahman announced that if they come to power, women’s economic empowerment will be ensured.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, at a January 30 press conference with women workers at the BNP chairman’s office in Gulshan, alleged that Jamaat-Shibir is regularly threatening BNP women workers both online and offline and harassing them physically and mentally.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has promised women’s empowerment during electoral campaigning. He stated that improved and dignified employment opportunities will be arranged for women, and access to higher education will be ensured.
