Hefazat-e-Islam’s demand of banning women from public appearance is nothing but a formula of making the country financially disable, said women’s rights activists and leaders at a mass gathering, yesterday.
Pointing out female workers’ contribution in Bangladesh’s economy by working in different sectors including readymade garments, foreign peace keeping missions, agriculture and as migrant workers, the speakers raised question on Hifazat’s contribution to the country’s development and economy.
The gathering of a several hundred people, under the banner of Pratibadi Nari Gana Samabesh (a mass gathering of protesting women) was held in front of the National Press Club in the city.
They also condemned the violence, which took place across the country since February in the name of “saving Islam” and caused death to a number of people along with large scale vandalising of public property.
Labour rights activists, Shirin Akhter said,“None of these‘Islam lovers’ has ever fought for women’s property rights. The Holy Quran talks about providing women her property, which she is entitled to, but they have never considered that as an issue of saving Islam. Rather they always, interpret Islam in a wrong way to suppress women.”
Former advisor to the caretaker government, Sultana Kamal said, “The extremists always targeted women and the minority community. Actually, they are afraid of us (women), because if we rise, their hypocrisy would be revealed and they can no longer use religion in committing violence,” she said.
She also called upon the government to restore the 1972’s constitution, particularly to eliminate the “communal Satan” across the country. “As long as, our constitution has Islam as the state religion and laws of the country are not gender sensitive, such extremists will repeatedly try to hunt down not only women but also indigenous and religious minority groups, since they consider them as weaker opponents.”
The 13-point demand by Hefazat includes, “In the name of freedom of speech and free society, all the indecent and immoral activities, free mixing between man and woman, adultery, practice of alien culture like candle lighting and foreign cultural aggression must be stopped.”
Meanwhile, women rights activist Khushi Kabir in her speech said, “Women of the country would resist Islamic extremists everywhere. We do not care whether you are Hefazat or Jamaat. We would do our work and contribute in developing our beloved country. We will be everywhere,” Khushi said.
Ruling party alliances’ lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon, Dhaka University vice chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Woman freedom fighter Rokeya Kabir, women leader Ayesha Khanom, prosecutor of War Crimes Tribunal Tureen Afroze, convener of Shahbag Ganajagaran Mancha Imran H Sarker, Indigenous women’s leader Chaitali Tripura, representative from agricultural female workers Rebeka Soren, cultural activist Mita Haque, laywer Salma Ali were among others who also spoke at the gathering.
A number of organisations – Bangladesh Medical Association, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, Nurse’s association, Bangladesh Economic Association, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Ganoforum among others expressed solidarity with the mass gathering.
