On Sunday, 1 February, at approximately 12:00 pm, activists of the Dhaka University (DU) branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra League staged a protest following a controversial post attributed to Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Amir of the Islamic political party Jamaat-e-Islami, on his former X (previously Twitter) account. The post, which likened working women to “modern-day prostitutes,” drew widespread condemnation and provoked significant public outrage.
The demonstration commenced in front of Madhur Canteen on the DU campus, with participants marching along the university’s main thoroughfares before assembling in Shahbagh for a short rally. During the march, students chanted slogans denouncing the post and demanded its immediate withdrawal, calling for accountability from the party leadership.
The protest was directly led by Dhaka University Chhatra League president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin. A large number of activists and volunteers actively participated, ensuring the demonstration remained highly visible while maintaining order.
Earlier the same day, at 11:00 am, Jamaat-e-Islami convened an urgent press briefing at their central office. Party representatives asserted that Dr Rahman’s X account had been hacked, stating that the incident came to their attention at 5:00 pm and appeared to have been part of a premeditated conspiracy. They described it as a “deeply orchestrated plot” carried out over several days.
A summary of the protest details and participants is shown in the table below:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Time of protest | Sunday, 1 February, 12:00 pm |
| Starting point | Madhur Canteen, Dhaka University |
| Rally location | Shahbagh, Dhaka |
| Leading figures | Rakibul Islam Rakib (President), Nasir Uddin (General Secretary) |
| Participants | DU Chhatra League activists and volunteers |
| Subject of post | Comparison of working women to “modern-day prostitutes” |
| Jamaat-e-Islami statement | Account hacked; incident described as a premeditated conspiracy |
Participants in the rally emphasised that derogatory comments undermining women’s dignity and societal contributions were completely unacceptable. They warned that such remarks could create confusion and mistrust among the youth and student communities.
Sources within the DU Chhatra League confirmed that similar protests and awareness campaigns would continue in the future to protect the rights of women and students. Meanwhile, the university administration has heightened security measures across campus to ensure safety.
This episode highlights broader national debates concerning women’s rights and digital security in Bangladesh. Experts have stressed the importance of responsible social media use by political leaders, underlining the urgent need for robust measures to protect personal accounts and prevent misinformation in today’s digitally connected society.