Fifteen citizens, including activists, academics, lawyers and journalists on Tuesday expressed their concern over some Islamist groups and parties’ demand to cancel the Women Affairs Reform Commission and called on the government to clarify its position immediately.
They expressed their concern through a statement sent to the media by the Association for Land Reform and Development executive director Shamsul Huda.
The statement read that the signatories were concerned over some Islamist groups and parties, including Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami demanding the cancellation of the women affairs reform commission formed by the interim government.
‘Some of them have threatened to overthrow the government, bring the country to a standstill, and even set the entire country on fire if the commission is not cancelled,’ read the statement.
The signatories marked the demand as not only offensive and unacceptable but also a serious crime of provocation of misogyny in the public mind and an attempt to create anarchy throughout the country.
They expressed anger and disappointment as the government was silent about the issue.
‘We call on the government to clarify its position immediately,’ read the statement.
Signatories of the statement included former Jahangirnagar University economics professor Anu Muhammad, rights activist Khushi Kabir, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust executive director Sara Hossain, lawyer ZI Khan Panna, photographer Shahidul Alam and writer Rahnuma Ahmed.
On May 3, Hefazat organised a rally pressing for the immediate cancellation of Women Affairs Reform Commission and its report and trial of the 2013 Shapla Square massacre and other demands.
