Jamaat explains women’s reduced working hours plan, BNP challenges gender assumptions

Both parties sign a Child Rights Manifesto by UNICEF

The Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka Metropolitan South Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud has said the proposal to reduce women’s daily working hours to five is intended to “respect them”.

He said party chief Shafiqur Rahman made the statement to show respect to women.

BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan, however, countered it by asking: “Is raising child only a mother’s responsibility?”

They made these remarks in response to questions from journalists at the signing ceremony of the “Child Rights Manifesto”, organised by UNICEF at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka on Monday.

At the event, representatives of 12 political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat, signed the 10-point manifesto prepared by UNICEF.

At the end of the ceremony, journalists questioned Jamaat leader Masud whether the statements made by the party were in conflict with the principles outlined in the child rights manifesto.

Masud said, “This manifesto only discusses children. Women's issues are not relevant here.”

Explaining the “five-hour” proposal, he said: “Our [party chief] said mothers have to perform certain tasks that men do not.

“The children we are talking about require care throughout the entire two years after birth and the ten months before birth, but it is the mother who bears this responsibility. This does not apply to fathers or men.

“Therefore, for the specific work she must perform, she should receive a dedicated allowance, which the state must provide.

“She will work for five hours but will receive remuneration for eight hours. This is how the state will show her respect and dignity.”

He added, “Currently, the leave and allowances given to mothers during pregnancy exist, but Jamaat-e-Islami has promised to make them much more effective, and we will ensure this, God willing.”

When asked about BNP's position on the statement, Moyeen said: “I don't think there is any need for the party to make a separate statement on this.

“Regarding the raising of children, if I may ask again, is it only the mother’s responsibility to raise them? Do fathers have no role in it? Therefore, I don’t think there is anything new to add on this matter.”