Dhaka, Feb. 2 -- BNP chief Tarique Rahman has urged women to decide how to respond to political parties that "disrespect" them, warning that a country cannot be "safe" in the hands of those who lack respect for people's dignity.

Speaking at an election rally in Khulna on Monday, he said: "Today I want to tell all the mothers and sisters of Bangladesh that the time has come for you to decide how you will respond to those who insult you in this way."

Tarique made the remarks at the Prabhati School field in the Khalishpur area amid controversy over a post widely denounced as "misogynistic" that was published from the X account of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman.

He said parties that show disrespect to women before an election could ...