Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has stated that no woman can ever become the head of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and clarified why the party will not nominate any female candidates in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, conducted by journalist Srinivasan Jain, Shafiqur was asked how many women the party would field in the next election. His response was clear: “None.”
He acknowledged that other political parties had also nominated very few women, attributing the situation to Bangladesh’s broader political culture.
“We are preparing for the future. This will not happen overnight,” he added.
Asked why Jamaat had not nominated even a single female candidate while other parties had, Shafiqur reiterated that the party’s approach was gradual and emphasised that it does not disrespect women.
On the question of whether a woman could ever lead Jamaat, he said definitively, “No, it is not possible.”
He explained that men and women were created differently by Allah, highlighting motherhood and breastfeeding as responsibilities unique to women.
“We cannot change what Allah has created,” he said.
When the interviewer noted that Bangladesh has been governed by women prime ministers for nearly three decades, Shafiqur responded that Jamaat respects women leaders and had no objection to women leading the country.
However, when asked why a woman capable of running a family could not lead the party, he cited “limitations” without specifying them, again pointing to maternal and biological responsibilities.
“A mother’s role after giving birth - can you perform that? Never. Allah knows everything,” he said.
Shafiqur’s comments underscore Jamaat-e-Islami’s conservative stance on gender roles within the party, while asserting that the party’s approach is part of a long-term preparation for the future.
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