ID was not hacked, they are telling lies to people: Tarique Rahman

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman strongly condemned remarks made in a controversial post on the official X account of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, which denigrated working women and sparked widespread outrage. 

Tarique asserted that the account was not hacked, accusing Jamaat of fabricating the claim to skip responsibility.

Speaking at an election rally organised by Khulna Metropolitan and District BNP at Prabhati School ground in Khulna on Monday, Tarique said: "A leader of a political party clearly used derogatory language against all women—mothers and sisters—who go out for employment. When faced with strong criticism, they claimed their IDs were hacked. But experts have made it clear that accounts cannot be hacked in this manner."

He added, "A senior leader of a political party is lying to the people right before the elections. The entire party is spreading falsehoods. Their IDs were not hacked—they are lying to serve their own interests. Their true identity is that they are liars."

In his approximately 27-minute speech, Tarique sharply criticised Jamaat's stance on women, stating, "We are witnessing how one political party seeks to confine half the women of Bangladesh to their homes. Their leader has explicitly said they do not accept women's leadership and has disrespected women with foul language."

He referenced historical and religious examples, noting, "Bibi Khadija (RA), the wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was a businesswoman and a working woman. Yet today, leaders of certain parties who insult women in Bangladesh claim they will establish Islam."

Tarique questioned, "The party that wants to lock away half the population before elections, and speaks disrespectfully to them—what will their behaviour be if they gain power after the elections? They only pursue self-interest, misusing religion to protect it."

He highlighted Jamaat's alleged disrespect toward women in 1971, saying their predecessors dishonoured millions of mothers and sisters during the Liberation War. 

Addressing women workers in Jamaat, "Your own party has women who leave home for work. What has your leader compared them to? If a leader insults his own party's women workers so harshly, imagine how he would treat ordinary women, mothers, and sisters across Bangladesh."

Tarique urged, "To the mothers and sisters of today's Bangladesh—how will you respond to those who humiliate you? Now is the time to decide."

On economic pledges for Khulna, he noted the region's industrial decline due to issues like gas shortages, promising that a BNP government would revive it as a vibrant hub, creating employment for both men and women. 

He also announced plans for IT parks to employ unemployed youth, especially in tech.

Tarique outlined welfare initiatives: family cards for every housewife to promote women's self-reliance, agricultural cards for farmers with easier loans, inputs like seeds and fertilizers, and waiver of up to Tk 10,000 in agricultural loans (including interest).

He cautioned voters about potential election irregularities, noting claims that vote counting would take longer this time, and urged vigilance against tricks by those who "lie day and night" and degrade women.

The rally was presided over by Khulna Metropolitan BNP President Shafiqul Alam Monar and addressed by candidates including Khulna-3's Rakibul Islam Bakul, Khulna-2's Nazrul Islam Manju, Khulna-4's Azizul Bari Helal, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna, and other BNP leaders such as Ali Azgar Labi, Amir Ejaz Khan, Monirul Hasan Bappi, Moniruzzaman Moni, and Jayanta Kumar Kundu.