“From my own experience, I can say that any female who wants to come into politics in this city faces violence, humiliation, and conspiracy from within her own party,” she said.
Fatema Khanom Liza. Photo: Collected
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Fatema Khanom Liza. Photo: Collected
Fatema Khanam Liza, a former spokesperson for the Chattogram chapter of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), has announced her resignation from politics, citing what she described as toxic treatment of women within the ranks.
She made the announcement last night during a Facebook Live session and later confirmed her decision in a public post today (2 August).
In her 16-minute and 36-second-long live, Liza stated, “The very people I fought alongside in the July uprising are now creating various negative narratives about women.”
“They are trying to destroy us. This is no longer tolerable,” she claimed.
Liza expressed her disappointment, saying, “In Chattogram, politics and the movement have been defeated by the personal interests of a few people. Many leaders have left.”
She went on to accuse her fellows, “The people we fought side by side with are now forming their own cliques in the name of leadership, lobbying with the central committee for positions. Yet, our fight was against fascism.
“Now, we have to fight against people from within our own ranks.”
Liza detailed the personal attacks against female activists, claiming, “I cannot explain the extent of the filth directed at women in Chattogram, or how much they are personally attacked.
“Who does this? Our own people. Our brothers whom we associated with, the brothers we had the courage to walk with, the brothers whose lives we saved — they are the ones doing this.”
Liza directly named some of the leaders she feels failed to take a stand, including Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi, Russell Ahmed, and Riza-ur Rahman.
“Today, many of the girls who were in politics are gone. Everyone has disappeared. They are running smear campaigns to try and sideline me as well,” she alleged.
This afternoon (2 August), Liza posted a written statement on her Facebook profile.
“I am officially stepping away from politics,” she wrote. “However, I believe someone will continue on this path. But I am deeply concerned about the future of female politicians in Chattogram.”
She added, “From my own experience, I can say that any female who wants to come into politics in this city faces violence, humiliation, and conspiracy from within her own party.”
Liza, a first-year student in the history department at Chattogram College, also served as a city coordinator for the movement.
When contacted for comment, Arif Moinuddin, the former convener of the SAD’s Chattogram city chapter, which is currently suspended, claimed that her resignation might be due to fears of not receiving a new post.
He also mentioned that Liza had been briefly expelled for a disciplinary breach a couple of months ago, though the decision was later withdrawn.
On 27 July, SAD’s central committee suspended all of its local committees nationwide.