BNP Questions Jamaat Amir’s Late Hacking Claim

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has raised serious doubts over Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman’s claim that his social media account was hacked, nearly nine hours after he posted a controversial, misogynistic message.

At a press briefing on Sunday at the BNP’s Election Steering Committee office in Gulshan, party spokesperson and senior adviser Mahdi Amin questioned the timing and credibility of the claim. He said, “Whenever a verified and significant account is compromised, the public is informed immediately. In this case, however, the hacking claim surfaced at 1:00 a.m., after public outrage had already spread. Naturally, this raises questions about its authenticity.”

Mahdi Amin noted that while other posts appeared on Shafiqur Rahman’s account during that period, no post explicitly mentioning a hack was visible. According to the BNP, a General Diary (GD) was filed at Hatirjheel Police Station at 3:30 a.m., citing that the hack had been discovered at 4:55 p.m. the previous day. “Why was the GD submitted almost twelve hours later? What is the reasonable explanation for such a delay?” he asked.

Highlighting the broader context, Amin criticised Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance and actions regarding women. He said the party consistently undermines women’s freedom, dignity, and equality. “Shafiqur Rahman’s post pushes our social discourse towards a medieval mindset, particularly in its treatment of women,” he added.

Amin further alleged that women are systematically excluded from leadership roles within Jamaat, despite being actively involved in grassroots tasks, such as collecting national ID and mobile payment numbers. “This is contrary to their so-called commitment to justice,” he remarked.

During the press briefing, Amin also emphasised the crucial contributions of women in leadership, education, healthcare, administration, and sports. He asserted that any form of disrespect, harassment, or abuse against women working in these sectors would not be tolerated by the BNP.

The briefing was attended by BNP Media Cell convener Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Jubo Dal central president Abdul Monayem Munna, and Swechchhasebak Dal senior co-president Yasin Ali, among others.

Timeline of Jamaat Amir’s Controversial Posts

The BNP’s criticism centres on both the timing of the hacking claim and the party’s broader approach to gender issues, raising concerns about accountability and social responsibility in public communications.