'Engage thru talks, not antagonistic rhetoric': 6 women, including NCP leaders, accept Hefazat's 'apology'
Six women, including three leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said they appreciate and accept Hefazat-e-Islam's apology in response to their legal notice for using derogatory language against women in public.
"Having accepted the apology, we request that in the future, they engage with women through table talks and public debates rather than antagonistic rhetoric," they said in a statement today (6 May).
NCP Joint Convener Mushfiqur Us Salehin confirmed the statement to The Business Standard.
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The six women – NCP leaders Syeda Nilima Dola, Dyuti Aranno Chowdhury and Nila Afroz, and writers Umme Raihana, Umme Farhana and Kameliya Sharmin – yesterday served a legal notice to the Hefazat-e-Islam over allegations of publicly referring to members of the Women Affairs Reform Commission as "prostitutes".
Earlier today, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh expressed regret over the "unexpected and offensive" rhetoric used by two speakers at its grand rally held at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on 3 May.
In the statement, the women also voiced concerns regarding parts of Hefazat-e-Islam's press release where the party referred to gender equality as a "Western agenda" and accused "radical feminists" of being instigators.
Urging the Hefazat-e-Islam to move beyond the "politics of framing", the women said, "Disagreeing with someone's views should not lead to labeling or vilification. Gender equality is not a Western agenda."
They called on Hefazat-e-Islam to engage in respectful public dialogue.
The women emphasised that women understand the struggle for their own rights and dignity best and should be allowed to lead that conversation.
They expressed hope that Hefazat-e-Islam will continue to sharpen their understanding and approach these matters with greater thoughtfulness.
"Our aim is to improve the quality of life for all communities. Creating repeated public pressure by questioning women's roles is counterproductive," adds the statement.
Referring to the July uprising of 2024, they said, "That movement was a major platform for understanding the power and leadership of women. Women played a crucial role in resisting autocratic governance. We believe that even in disagreement, respectful dialogue must be maintained, leading toward a new social contract."
They also mentioned that a copy of the legal notice would be delivered to Hefazat-e-Islam's office as per legal protocol and the party is expected to formally respond through their legal counsel.
"We welcome this process of accountability and hope that the vision for a new Bangladesh includes everyone," the statement reads.
