Criticism continues to pour in
Political parties and rights organisations continued to criticise Hefajat-e-Islam chief Shah Ahmed Shafi for his comment on girls' education.
Addressing a rally in Chattogram on Friday, Shafi made parents promise that they won't send their daughters to school.
“At most, you can allow them to study up to class IV or V, so that they can maintain their husbands' accounts and can write letters to them,” he further said, igniting a firestorm of protests from various quarters.
Such type of call is unwanted, unwelcome and regrettable, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a press statement yesterday. “I was stunned and surprised by his [Shafi's] comment.”
The BNP leader said such remarks in the 21st century will only embarrass Bangladeshis in front of the international community.
Mentioning that there is no conflict between girls' education and religion, Fakhrul said BNP thinks development will not be possible without educating and empowering country's girls and women.
He also underscored the need for women education and said the role of mothers as a child's first teacher in shaping their perspective is crucial.
In a press release, Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) said Shafi's statement has astounded the nation. It might create a security crisis for female students, who are pursuing higher education, LDA said, demanding steps against the Hefajat chief.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), in a statement, also asked Shafi to withdraw his remarks immediately.
“It's against the constitution, human rights and individual rights of girls and women. How could he propagate such anti-constitutional statement?” it said, vehemently protesting his remarks.
BMP also said, “We are eager to learn how the government views this statement.”
In another statement, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha strongly condemned the remarks. It said men and women have equal rights to education and such comments will create a barrier to women education and empowerment.
The 99-year-old Hefajat leader is no stranger to making outright vulgar remarks about women and has said similar things before, drawing criticism from rights activists and even the prime minister.
In a viral video clip in 2013, the chairman of Qawmi Madrasa Education Board was seen making suggestive remarks as he compared women with tamarind, a fruit that, according to him, would make any man salivate.
Women should take care of furniture, raise children and stay within the confines of their homes, he said at the time.
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