Dhaka: BNP on Sunday questioned the credibility of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer’s claim that his social media account was hacked, saying the claim came nearly nine hours after a controversial anti-women post triggered widespread criticism.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the BNP Election Steering Committee Spokesperson Mahdi Amin raised concerns over the delayed hacking claim during a press conference at the party’s Gulshan election office.
Mahdi Amin emphasized that when an important or verified social media account is hacked, immediate public notification is crucial to avoid confusion. He noted that the Jamaat Ameer’s claim of a hacked account surfaced only after public outrage had already spread, raising doubts about the authenticity of the claim. Amin pointed out that several posts were made from the Jamaat Ameer’s Facebook account during the alleged hacking period, but no mention was made regarding his X (formerly Twitter) account being compromised.
Amin further questioned why a General Diary (GD) was filed with Hatirjheel Police Station at 3:30am, despite the hacking reportedly being detected at 4:55pm. The BNP spokesperson asked for a reasonable explanation for the nearly 12-hour delay in filing the GD. He also expressed skepticism about the quick recovery of the account after the hacking claim.
The BNP spokesperson reiterated the party’s commitment to women’s personal freedom, dignity, and equal rights. He condemned the language used by the Jamaat Ameer in the controversial post, labeling it as a clear expression of misogyny. Amin said the post, made at 4:37pm on January 31, when translated, suggested that bringing women out of their homes in the name of modernity exposes them to exploitation, moral decline, and insecurity, likening it to prostitution.
Amin highlighted previous instances where the Jamaat Ameer had made negative remarks about women’s empowerment, including in an interview with Al Jazeera. He accused the party of a pattern of behavior, citing earlier incidents where a Jamaat leader made offensive comments against female students of Dhaka University. The BNP leader also criticized the Jamaat chief for past public remarks, such as proposing shorter working hours for women.
The BNP spokesperson pointed out that the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which often speaks of establishing ‘justice,’ has not nominated a single woman as a parliamentary candidate in any constituency. He cited an incident where a party member compared women’s entry into parliament to a ‘trophy’ on a television talk show, describing it as contemptuous. Amin also noted that the party has publicly declared that no woman will ever hold its top leadership position.
Amin expressed concern over reports of harassment faced by female BNP members and those of its associate bodies, allegedly by Jamaat supporters. He acknowledged the significant contributions of women in various sectors of Bangladesh, including industry, education, healthcare, law enforcement, administration, media, sports, and social movements. He recalled the role of women in past movements, including the July 2024 mass uprising and the 1971 Liberation War.
The BNP spokesperson vowed that the party would not tolerate any injustice, oppression, or abuse against women, emphasizing their determination to protect women’s dignity across the country and in online spaces. Other notable figures present at the press conference included BNP Media Cell Convener Prof Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Jubo Dal President Abdul Moneim Munna, and Swechchhasebak Dal Senior Vice-President Yasin Ali.