Hifazat’s anti-women stance decried

The Ganajagaran Mancha leaders on Monday alleged that the Hifazat-e Islam wants to curb the progress of Bangladesh by opposing the joint efforts of men and women.

The Shahbagh protesters demanded greater participation of women in all sectors of the society, including politics and development.

They called upon two of the top leaders in the country to contribute to the cause of the women in Bangladesh.

“Participation of women in all sectors should be increased. There’s no alternative. No law can be made that hinders this progress,” Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said.

The 13-point charter of demands of the Hifazat-e Islam was against the spirit of Liberation War and the constitution, he said. “There is no question of giving in to those demands.”

Another Mancha spokesperson Maruf Rasul recalled the joint efforts of men and women in building Bangladesh after the Liberation War. “But, a group is trying to hinder the joint efforts. It has to be resisted.”

Earlier in the morning, the Ganajagaran Mancha brought out a rally in Dhaka carrying the national flag in a bid to reject the nationwide shutdown of the Hifazat-e-Islam.

The procession began from Shahbagh at around 11:20am, bdnews24.com Correspondent present at the scene reported. They were chanting slogans demanding capital punishment for war criminals and for a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Hundreds of people were seen marching in the procession. Many were carrying the national flag, while a large national flag was held horizontally in the middle of the procession.

The procession marched through the road facing the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Dhaka Universtiy campus and terminated at the Central Shaheed Minar.

People had started gathering at Shahbagh since morning and marched in small groups.

Ganajagaran Manhca spokesperson Sarker, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote Prseident Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu and several other student organisation leaders joined the procession.

Sarker had made the announcement for the procession from their rally on Saturday.

Regarding their stance during the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance shutdown on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Mancha leaders are expected to brief the media later.