With national elections approaching, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is moving to confront Jamaat-e-Islami’s growing grassroots activities targeting women voters. According to party insiders, Jamaat has already deployed its women’s wing across the country, raising concern among BNP’s policymaking leadership.
In response, BNP is set to activate its Women and Children’s Rights Forum, launched in 2019 and led by Standing Committee member Selima Rahman as convener and Nipun Roy Chowdhury as member secretary. Through this platform, BNP aims to organize domestic-level programs involving former and current BNP-backed public representatives at the union, municipality, and upazila levels. The initiative will highlight the party’s positions on women’s rights, safety, empowerment, and voter awareness.
The campaign is scheduled to begin in Khulna Division on October 14, with three days of discussions and exchanges across Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore, Magura, Jhenaidah, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur, and Chuadanga. Selima Rahman and Nipun Roy will lead the sessions, joined by local BNP leaders.
“Our aim is to present BNP’s ideas to women voters. We will talk about their rights and protection. We will make women voters aware,” said Nipun Roy Chowdhury. Echoing her, Selima Rahman added that the effort is not only about elections but also about building awareness to change Bangladesh’s “political culture and moral degradation.”
BNP sources confirmed that alongside the Women and Children’s Rights Forum, the Nationalist Women’s Party has also been tasked with strengthening support for the party’s “rice sheaf” election symbol at the grassroots level.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 