Female students at Dhaka University protest Jamaat chief’s ‘misogynistic post’

They conduct a “broom march” at the foot of the Raju Memorial Sculpture

A group of female Dhaka University students have held a “broom procession” to protest a “misogynistic post” by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman.

They gathered at the foot of the university's Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture around 2 pm on Sunday.

The protesters held placards and chanted slogans bashing the Jamaat chief and the post.

At the rally, Student Federation leader Seema Akter said, "Whenever someone in Bangladesh speaks out about women’s rights it leads to bullying online. Leaders and activists of a certain political party are attacking women's social media through fake IDs and bot."

A post published on Shafiqur’s X (formerly Twitter) handle went viral on social media on Saturday, leading to backlash over its comments on women's leadership and working women.

Later that night, Sirajul Islam, a member of Jamaat's election management committee and former president of Chhatra Shibir, filed a general diary (GD) at Hatirjheel Police Station. It was alleged that the Jamaat chief’s verified X handle was “hacked” and the post was made by the hacker.

Bangladesh Chhatra Front President Mukta Baroi said attempts were being made to dispel the backlash while calling the incident a “hack”.

“The proof must be presented to the people," she said.

A student named Sushmita Sarkar said at the rally, "This incident is not isolated. Such statements are being made regularly, which cannot be forgiven."

She called for the people to respond to such statements at the ballot box in the upcoming election.

The protesters also demanded a public apology from the Jamaat chief.