In a significant move to safeguard the constitutional rights of women in Bangladesh, the civil society group ‘Sachetan Nagarik Samaj’ (Conscious Citizens’ Society) has formally petitioned the Prime Minister to cancel the political registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Friday, led by the prominent entrepreneur and digital influencer Robayat Fatema Toni, who serves as the member secretary of the organisation.
Table of Contents
The Core Allegations
The petition, read aloud by Ms. Toni, centres on the inflammatory and discriminatory rhetoric allegedly propagated by the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, and other senior party leaders. The group contends that the party’s leadership has repeatedly asserted that women are fundamentally ineligible to serve as heads of state, party leaders, Chief Justices, or heads of any major institution.
According to ‘Sachetan Nagarik Samaj’, such a stance is not merely a matter of theological interpretation but a direct assault on the Constitution of Bangladesh. Ms. Toni argued that these declarations violate:
Article 27: Guaranteeing equality before the law.
Article 28: Prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
Legal Grounds for Deregistration
The group highlighted that under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), any political entity that adopts a platform or ideology explicitly opposing gender equality stands to have its registration revoked. By advocating for the exclusion of women from the highest echelons of governance, the organization claims Jamaat has rendered itself unfit to function as a registered political party within a secular democracy.
“The right of women to participate in the governance of the state is a non-negotiable constitutional pillar. The dignity and legal standing of women cannot be bartered for political expediency,” stated Ms. Toni during the briefing.
Summary of Demands
The following table outlines the primary demands submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office:
| Objective | Action Requested |
| Registration Status | Immediate investigation and cancellation of Jamaat-e-Islami’s political registration. |
| Legal Accountability | Prosecution of Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for derogatory and unconstitutional remarks. |
| Public Redress | A formal, public apology from the Jamaat leadership to the women of Bangladesh. |
| Legislative Reform | Enactment of stricter laws against hate speech and gender-based political discrimination. |
A Call for Decisive Action
The organisation concluded by urging the state to take a firm legal stand against misogynistic discourse. They argued that allowing such ideologies to flourish under the guise of political activity undermines decades of progress in women’s empowerment. The Prime Minister’s Office has yet to issue an official response to the letter, but the move has already sparked a renewed national debate regarding the limits of political ideology versus constitutional mandates.