Jamaat-e-Islami did not nominate a single woman as a parliamentary candidate in the February 12 election in Bangladesh.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has made it obvious that its stance on women’s role in formal politics of Bangladesh is straight and simple – no representation.
The party’s own constitution is grounded in its interpretation of Islamic principles, rules out women in the highest leadership positions. No woman can ever be the party’s “ameer” (general leader) because of the religious interpretation.
Its ideology promotes a conservative interpretation of gender roles, and emphasis on modesty and segregation in social settings. The Jamaat prefers family-centeric roles for the women.
Unlike Muslim-majority states, the society in Bangladesh has always believed in gender-equality, and had women Prime Ministers for decades – Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, and Khaleda Zia of the BNP.
That two women Prime Ministers ruled for a long time in Bangladesh, reflects a broader political culture where women occupy leadership roles.
But, Jamaat has a totally different world view – it restricts women’s autonomy and reinforces patriarchal norms. On the other hand, the party talks highly about its Islamic protections and dignity for women.
As a result, the women held their flame torches aloft and marched into the Dhaka streets, demanding equality.
Why women marched in Dhaka at midnight?
Women in Bangladesh are angry because the February 12 election is caught in disappointment and fear, amid the revival of a regressive Islamist politics that it is feared will impinge upon women’s rights in the coming years.
“This is election will bring an end to Bangladesh’s decades-old gender equality. It is sad that this election will push our country back 100 years,” Najma Begum, an activist on the road, said.
Since Hasina’s fall in August 2024, the Jamaat-e-Islami has mobilised with exceptional enthusiasm, positioning itself as a strongest rival to the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) in the February 12 election.
Whether the Jamaat-e-Islami emerges as a strong opposition, or succeeds in forming a government, the future of Bangladesh’s politics looks like to transform itself into a heavily Islamist culture, where women are likely to get no space at all.
Interestingly, the Jamaat e-Islami has come up with a manifesto focusing on reform, and women’s safety from harassment and clean politics. Still, it did not field a single women candidate.
The Jamaat-e-Islami supporters have already unleased a reign of terror across Bangladesh, forcing every adult women to use ‘hijab’, banning girls from taking part in outdoor sports activities, and many more.
The Jamaat e-Islami has proposed reducing women’s working hours from eight hours to five, with the government funding the lost income, so that women can spend more time at home.
The Islamist political party probably forgot that women constitute 44 percent of Bangladesh’s workforce, and the government compensating for three hours, will cause immense pressure on the exchequer.
March in support of Jamaat-e-Islami
In an attempt to demonstrate the Jamaat’s commitment to women, thousands of female supports of the party took to the streets in Dhaka to deny the common perception that the Islamist party would restrict their freedoms.
The Jamaat claim that it has women’s wings and female activists, and it supports women’s education within an Islamic framework.
Pushing the message of reform and anti-corruption, the Jamaat e-Islami leaders also claimed that the fears of women towards his party were unfounded, and the general view is part of a political smear campaign.
It is apparent that the Jamaat-e-Islami is popular among the young, first-time voters, who constitute 42 percent of the electorate, and are hungry for a political change in Bangladesh.
But, it is surprising as to why the young voters are supporting a political party, which thinks that it will be good for the country to bring in Islamic law because it will make way for an honest and corruption-free.
The electorates need to understand that if the Jamaat-e-Islami sidelines women from active politics, it would reduce women’s ability to shape policy, not only as voters, but also as decision-makers.
The institutional exclusion will create a political vacuum, where women’s perspectives on law, rights, and social policy will be totally marginalised.
As the Jamaat-e-Islami promotes policies that de-emphasize women’s roles in public and economic life, it will slow down on employment, leadership opportunities, and income equality especially for working women in ready-made garments industry in Bangladesh where women make up a large share of the workforce.
Women activists also point recent increases in violence against women in Bangladesh, with data showing thousands of reported cases across months leading up to the election — a symptom of broader social tensions and weak mechanisms to protect women’s safety and legal rights.
Even without new laws, a shift in political power toward conservative religious forces can embolden social actors (groups, institutions, vigilantes) to enforce their own norms — what some call moral surveillance. This can create environments where women feel less safe to speak up, travel alone, or engage in public activism.
