Remarks on Girls' Education: Rights activists demand legal action against Shafi

A group of labour leaders and rights activists yesterday demanded that the government take legal actions against Hefajat-e Islam's Amir Shah Ahmad Shafi for his recent remarks on girls' education.

Speaking at a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, they also said Shafi must acknowledge his mistake and withdraw the comments through apologising to the entire nation, especially women.

National Domestic Women Workers Union, a platform of domestic workers and labour leaders, organised the human chain to protest the controversial remarks of the Hefajat-e Islam leader.

Last Friday, speaking at a rally in Chattogram, Shafi made parents promise not to send their daughters to school, saying – “At most, you can allow them to study up to class four or five, so that they can maintain their husbands' accounts and can write letters to them.”

His remarks ignited a firestorm of protests from various sections of society as well as on social media.

At the human chain, Jobaida Pervin, a Supreme Court lawyer, said Shafi's remarks are against the country's constitution and other international laws, and he should be brought under trial for treason.

“Fundamentalists like Shafi don't need to speak against women. They can and should control their tongues,” said Jobaida, also executive president of the Workers Union.

Wajedul Islam Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, said, “We are demanding exemplary punishment for Ahmed Shafi, through a treason case against him for making derogatory remarks on women.”

If he does not withdraw his comments, people will not forgive him, Wajedul added.

Abul Hossain, president of Workers Party's Dhaka unit, said, “Ahmed Shafi is suffering from senility. He is providing false interpretations of Islam. Islam ensures equality for both men and women.”

He also claimed that Hefajat-e Islam is an organisation of fundamentalists, and they “do not believe” in the sovereignty of Bangladesh.