Nothing in religion bars women from working: Mirza Abbas
He urges women to remain vigilant against such parties
BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas today (1 February) strongly condemned what he described as "obscene and derogatory" remarks made by a senior leader of a "anti-liberation" political party about working women, saying there is nothing in religion that prohibits women from working.
"There is nowhere in our religion that says women cannot work. On the contrary, women have been granted equal rights," he said, adding that he strongly denounced such statements and urged women to remain vigilant against such parties.
Mirza Abbas, who is also the party's nominated candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, made the remarks while speaking during a door-to-door campaign at Khilgaon-Rajarbagh area in the capital.
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The senior BNP leader said spreading slander, misinformation and deception cannot secure people's votes. "Some parties seem to have assumed they will win for certain. The people want to know where they are drawing this power from."
Asked about the overall election environment, Abbas said the environment is not good. "The electoral code of conduct clearly states that no one should make aggressive or provocative remarks against opponents. But such violations are happening in my constituency."
He alleged that the Election Commission was failing to act impartially. "Why has no action been taken despite repeated false allegations and defamation? Complaints have been lodged, but there has been no response," he said.
Mirza Abbas also referred to media freedom, saying that although the media often publishes critical reports about his party, the BNP does not object as it believes in press freedom.
However, he criticised what he described as threats against journalists by a political figure. "This kind of language amounts to intimidating the media. The Liberation War of 1971 and the movement of 2024 were not fought for this," he said.
