Female Jamaat activists facing harassment, party tells EC

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today alleged that its female activists are facing harassment and targeted attacks in several areas, ahead of the national election.

“Assaults are being 'deliberately carried out' on our activists over the past few days,” Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the party’s publicity and media wing, Ehsanul Mahboob Zubair, told reporters following a meeting between a Jamaat delegation and the chief election commissioner at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

“They [female Jamaat activists] are being harassed, humiliated, and in some places, asked to remove their veils. Many have had their mobile phones snatched. Such incidents are repeatedly occurring in the Dhaka-15 constituency, as well as in other constituencies in the capital, and across the country,” he added.

Alleging widespread violations of the electoral code of conduct across the country, Jamaat leaders demanded installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centres and urged the EC and administration to play a stronger role in ensuring a level-playing field.

Criticising law enforcement agencies, Zubair said complaints were lodged immediately in affected areas, but no visible action was taken.

Jamaat also urged returning officers and other relevant officials on duty to fulfill their responsibilities.