Islami Andolon expresses opposition to reserving seats for women in parliament

Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, a leader of Bangladesh Islami Andolon (Islamic Movement), has voiced opposition to reserved seats for women in parliament, arguing that such measures portray women as weak.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Islamic Youth Movement, an associate wing of the party, at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday afternoon, he criticized the proposal for reserved women's seats included in a constitutional reform recommendation. The rally caused significant traffic disruptions on the Shahbagh to Matsya Bhaban road, according to bdnews24.com.

Faizul Karim referenced the reform commission's proposal for a bicameral parliament with 505 seats, including 100 reserved for women in the lower house, and called for MPs to be elected solely through direct voting. "There are 505 seats in parliament as per the recommendation. Whether the number is fewer or more, MPs should be chosen by voting everywhere," he stated.

He further linked the opposition to quotas to past movements, saying, "We fought against quotas before. If a quota for women is implemented now, it will mean our movement has failed. There will be no quota for women."

Addressing the BNP, he criticized their inaction, saying: "Elections will follow the reforms. To those blocking reforms now, where were you for 16 years? You spoke of protests after every Eid, yet countless Eids have passed with no action. You are undermining the achievements of the student-public movement."

He also condemned ongoing corruption, stating: "Since August 5th, extortion and land grabbing have resumed. The people of Bangladesh do not want to see corruption and extortion. Those who made Bangladesh a five-time champion in corruption have no place in power again."