Five-hour work plan for women in Bangladesh part of effort to reorient them towards home: Report
Dhaka, Dec 3 – The Bangladesh Jamaat‑e‑Islamic (JI) leader Shafiqur Rahman has come under fire after revealing a plan to shorten women’s work hours, a move many argue signals a broader push to pull women back into the home and limit their workplace presence, a report outlined on Wednesday.
During an overseas event in New York last month, Rahman asserted that “When we come to power, we will reduce their (women’s) working hours. This will be to help mothers fulfil their duties towards their children and to honor them as mothers.” The comment sparked backlash across social media and from a range of political rivals, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Rahman has refused to retract his words; instead, he reiterated the plan at a gathering in Dhaka, as The Diplomat noted.
In his statement, he said:
– Women in the workplace will be required to work five hours while still receiving the equivalent of an eight‑hour salary. Employers will cover the pay for the five hours, and the government will sponsor the remaining three hours.
– Those who take on domestic duties will be regarded as “Rotnogorva,” a “mother of gems.”
– Women who choose a full eight‑hour day will also receive recognition and respect.
The Diplomat highlighted that the JI chief’s remarks have sparked heated debate across the country, with commentators questioning whether the policy genuinely supports women’s development or if it is merely a strategic move for electoral gain. Critics point out that the subsidy for women’s reduced hours could strain the national economy and that the underlying goal appears to be to prejudice women in hiring and career progression, undermining their financial independence, family welfare, and educational advancement for children.
The proposal, which Rahman has described as an effort to give women more time for housework by cutting their workday from eight to five hours, fits neatly with JI’s long‑standing view that a woman’s place is inside the home, carrying out cooking, cleaning, and child‑rearing. He recently added that if his party came to power he would not enforce the burqa, suggesting instead that women would choose to dress modestly on their own. This claim was left vague, but it rings in line with JI’s historical advocacy for strict gender segregation and the burqa. With elections approaching, many observers see the five‑hour workday proposal as part of a larger strategy to reorient women toward domestic life under the banner of welfare, limiting their freedom, mobility, and workforce participation.
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