Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said no woman can ever lead his party because, in his words, Allah did not create women "in that way" and it is "unchangeable".
He claimed that no party has nominated a "substantial number" of female candidates in the parliamentary election, describing it as "a cultural reality of Bangladesh", and argued that most countries do not consider women's leadership "feasible".
His remarks came in an interview with Qatar?based broadcaster Al Jazeera, aired on Thursday.
Journalist Sreenivasan Jain conducted the half-an-hour interview at Shafiqur's residence in Dhaka, pressing him on Jamaat's policies towards women.
When asked about reports that Jamaat had proposed reducing working hours for women based on Quranic principles, Shafiqur denied making such a statement.
"Who said [so]? I never said this," he was quoted as saying.
He explained instead that mothers should have the option of shorter hours during lactation, calling it a matter of "justice" and "respect".
"A mother, at the same time she is caring for her baby, and at the same time she will perform the same duty, same hour with the gentleman, it's not justice," he told Al Jazeera.
He described shorter hours as an "optional offer" for mothers, not a mandatory restriction.
Shafiqur dismissed protests against the proposal, saying critics had "misunderstood".
"No question of darkness. It is a matter of showing respect to them," he said, adding that only a "negligible section" of society opposed the idea.
Pressed on representation, Shafiqur admitted Jamaat has fielded no female candidates in the parliamentary election.
"Not a single one. But we are preparing," he said, noting that women had contested in local government polls.
On whether a woman could lead Jamaat in future, Shafiqur was categorical in the interview: "It's not possible.
Because Allah made everyone in its own entity. We will never be able to feed our breast to a child. This is God?given. And there are some differences between men and women. What Allah made, we cannot change it."
When reminded that Bangladesh has had female prime ministers for three decades, Shafiqur replied: "We did not protest them. Already I said we are not disrespectful. But if you look at the world, how many ladies came forward? Few countries." �"bdnews24
