Dhaka, Apr 30 (V7N) — Religious scholars and Islamic leaders have demanded the complete dissolution of the Women's Reform Commission, accusing it of promoting Islamophobic agendas under the guise of reform. They claimed that the office of the Chief Advisor is complicit in forming the commission and warned against using women's rights as a tool to attack Islamic principles.

The call was made at a national seminar titled “Islamophobia of Women’s Reform Commission and What We Can Do About It” held on Wednesday afternoon at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Kakrail, Dhaka. The event was organized by the Ulama Mashayek Aima Parishad and attended by prominent leaders from various Islamic political parties.

Speakers at the seminar strongly criticized several proposals by the commission, including a recommendation to classify forced sexual intercourse within marriage as rape and an amendment to the labor law recognizing the rights of sex workers. These proposals have sparked intense debate among conservative and religious communities.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared, “This commission stands against the nation’s values, conscience, and the divine laws of Allah. We reject not just the report, but the entire commission itself.”

He also accused the commission of misrepresenting the interests of women and attempting to reinterpret Quranic injunctions. “Why provoke such division now? This should not be the agenda of the interim government,” he said.

Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Mamunul Haque added, “Islam has always ensured fair rights for women, not necessarily equal rights in every aspect. If equality means forcing women into competition with men, it will destroy the foundation of society.”

He further warned against institutionalizing prostitution under the guise of rights protection. “This commission is pushing women toward moral degradation. We demand this destructive effort be stopped immediately.”

Leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, Khilafat Majlis, NCP, and AB Party, including NCP Joint Convener Ashraf Mahadi and AB Party President Mujibur Rahman Manju, also addressed the gathering.

The formation of the Women's Reform Commission has been one of the most polarizing moves under the current interim administration, igniting fierce debates between progressive rights advocates and conservative religious groups.

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