Dhaka: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam on Monday lodged several complaints with the Election Commission, alleging that its women activists and school teachers enlisted under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) are facing harassment while campaigning for the party ahead of the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12 next. ‘We’ve noticed over the past few days that when our women activists go out to carry out election activities, they are being attacked in different places of the country. They are being harassed and humiliated,’ said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Zubair briefed reporters after a Jamaat delegation, led by him, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Zubair, who also heads the party’s central publicity and media department, mentioned that women wearing the niqab were sometimes asked to remove it publicly. Citing incidents in constituencies such as Dhaka-15, he reported that mobile phones were snatched from women activists, creating concern among women who constitute nearly half of the voters.

Zubair noted that women are playing a crucial role in the campaign for the upcoming February-12 national election and referendum. However, he expressed regret over misconduct against their women activists by members of a certain political party. He raised a second complaint, alleging that MPO-enlisted teachers are being prevented by local officials, including magistrates, from participating in election campaigns. Zubair questioned why an MPO-enlisted teacher should be allowed to campaign when they can also become candidates. He added that when a teacher is harassed or fined, it results in humiliation before colleagues, students, and society. The Election Commission assured the delegation that appropriate measures would be taken to address these concerns.

Zubair reiterated their demand for the installation of CCTV cameras at polling stations, to which the Election Commission responded that steps had already been taken and a circular issued. In response to a question about why Jamaat did not field any women candidates in this election, Zubair outlined four reasons. He stated that the provision for 5 percent women candidates in the July National Charter would take effect only after the ‘Yes’ option in the referendum passes and is not mandatory this time. He added that the provision is for the next parliament (14th parliament) and that they plan to field women candidates next time.

Zubair also noted that some of the other 11 parties in the Jamaat-led alliance have fielded women candidates in this election. He explained that Jamaat follows an internal selection process beginning at the grassroots level, where women have the freedom to decide whether to contest, considering family and personal circumstances. Over 40 percent of leadership positions from the grassroots to the apex body-Shura are held by women.

When asked about an allegation by BNP that Jamaat women activists demanded national identity and mobile payment numbers from voters, Zubair dismissed them as ‘completely false’ and stated that no such incidents have occurred. A gentlemen’s agreement was reached among political parties in the July National Charter 2025, calling for at least 5 percent women candidates in the next general election and at least 10 percent in the 14th national election. However, this agreement will not be incorporated into the Constitution. Despite this, most parties ignored the commitment in the 13th parliamentary election.