No Women Candidates in Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, No Woman Leader as 'Allah Does Not Allow'

News February 7, 2026

Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami party has confirmed it will field no female candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, and women are barred from holding the party's top leadership position, according to statements from its Ameer (chief), Shafiqur Rahman.

In a recent interview with Al Jazeera English, Rahman explained the party's stance, stating that a woman cannot become the head of Jamaat-e-Islami. "It's not possible," he said, attributing this to divine design: "Allah made everyone in its own entity... What Allah made, we cannot change it."

He cited biological differences, such as women's ability to bear children and breastfeed, as God-given distinctions that impose limitations on certain roles. "There are some differences between men and women," Rahman added, noting physical and familial duties that could hinder full performance in leadership.

When asked directly about women candidates for parliament, Rahman replied, "Not a single one. But we are preparing." He noted that women from the party have successfully contested and won in local government elections, but parliamentary nominations remain absent this time, partly due to cultural factors in Bangladesh. He emphasized that the party respects women and supports their choices, while proposing adjustments like reduced working hours for mothers during child-rearing periods based on Quranic principles of justice and equity.

The remarks have drawn criticism amid broader debates on gender roles, women's political participation, and the party's Islamist orientation following its resurgence after a previous ban. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, including from its women's wing, have defended the policy as aligned with Islamic teachings, where men are seen as having certain managerial responsibilities.

The interview highlights ongoing tensions in Bangladesh's evolving political landscape as the country prepares for elections, with questions about secularism, minority rights, and gender equality remaining prominent.