Several Islamist parties on Thursday threatened to organise a silent procession of burqa-wearing women if the April 27 rally of the garment workers against Hefajat-e-Islam’s 13-point demand is not called off.
“We (Islamist parties) will be compelled to arrange a silent procession with participation of tens of thousands of religion-loving women draped in burqas if the government does not withdraw the rally,” Sultan Mohiuddin, publicity affairs secretary of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, said.
Mohiuddin made the remarks while addressing a roundtable discussion organised by Islamist parties at the National Press Club.
He, however, couldn’t specify about the time and place of the procession. “We’ll take a decision later after seeing the government initiative in this regard,” he said while replying to a query.
The Khelafat Andolan leader alleged that the government is spreading propaganda against the 13-point demand of Hefajat-e-Islam.
Chaired by Khelafat Andolan ameer Maulana Shah Ahmadullah Asrafi, the programme was addressed, among others, by Islami Oikya Jote chairman Abdul Latif Nezami and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party president Shafiul Alam Pradhan.
The garment workers will hold a rally at the city’s Shapla Chattar at Motijheel on April 27 in protest against the 13-point demand of Islamist outfit Hefajat-e-Islam.
Hefajat’s demands include repealing the existing national education policy and the women development policy and enactment of a blasphemy law.
Addressing the programme, speakers alleged that the government is going to arrange the rally with participation of the most deprived women of the society to stand them against Islam.
They claimed that the deprived women will get proper respect if the 13-point demand of Hefajat is implemented.
They also urged the women to acquire proper knowledge from Imams on their demands instead of being misguided by the government.
The speakers asked the government to meet their demands by May 4, or else, they will give a befitting reply to it on May 5.
Source: UNB Connect
