By Ashish Singh
The influence of fundamentalists is affecting the lives of people in many ways in Bangladesh. Women are usually the main targets in times of crisis, therefore, in this conversation I asked Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman about the women of Bangladesh.
Ashish Singh: How have women been seen in Bangladesh? Please provide a socio-historical perspective.
Anisur Rahman: Bangladesh is a multi-ethnic society. Besides state laws, the social life is mostly guided by ethnic and religious rituals. Within different ethnic groups or religions, women are traditionally respected differently. Within a liberal ethnic or religious society in Bangladesh, women are profiled with due recognition and respect. People in general appreciate such diversities. It is a thousand-year historic tradition in Bengali society.
Women had a strong role in social reforms as well as historic movements against British imperialism and Pakistani imperial role. Women fought together with men even against military autocracy in the post-Independence Bangladesh. Bangladesh witnesses both matrimonial and patrimonial family in various ethnic groups. Notable profiles in modern Bengali history and culture are Begum Rokeya, Ila Mitra, Pritilata Waddedar, Nurjahan Murshid, Taramon Bibi Bir Pratik, Begum Fazilanun Nesa Mujib, Sufia Kamal, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Hasina, Nilima Ibrahim, Jahanara Imam, Bibi Russell, and many others.
Ashish Singh: It is becoming clear now that the radical elements of Bangladeshi politics have a say in the ongoing situation. How is it affecting women?
Anisur Rahman: Major radical groups like Hefajat Islam do have an agenda as follows: Stop foreign cultural intrusions including free-mixing of men and women, and put an end to adultery, injustice, shamelessness, etc., in the name of freedom of expression and individuals. Scrap anti-Islamic women policy and education policy and make Islamic education mandatory from primary to higher secondary levels. Earlier, such points were just demands, now it is time for them to implement these, violating the existing law and constitution.
Hundreds of atrocities take place against women every day. No significant measures are taken to stop it and initiatives to try the culprits have yet been taken. The Media is failing to manifest these crimes. Instead, the media seems to extend solidarity with the Islamists in line with the Yunus administration’s approach.
Opponents of a liberal society for women are enjoying an encouraging environment when an internationally banned radical group, Hijbut Tahrir element, for example, Mahfuj Alam is a special assistant to Dr Muhammad Yunus. Some other elements in his administration are loyal to radical politics as well. Dr Yunus, along with Mahfuj Alam and other controversial individuals, made a visit to the UN and the White House in September 2024. At the same time, the Yunus regime extended indemnity to the killers of female police personnel along with male police members in the July-August atrocities.
Nobel laureate businessman Yunus is a sweet friend of the US and a prophetic figure to Islamist radical groups in Bangladesh, who have reportedly spiritual links with the al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS, ISI, Hizbut Tahrir and so.
Ashish Singh: Do you see any citizens’ movement focusing on women’s issues in Bangladesh?
Anisur Rahman: I do not see any citizens’ movement worth mentioning. Many are trying to get their voices heard on social media. Female academics under the University’ Teachers’ Network were much vocal against the elected governments. However, the same teachers are significantly silent on these issues. Sometimes, they are even echoing the voice of the foes to women.
There is a news report featuring the allegation by a former Dhaka University female student of sexual abuse by an academic called Ali Riaz, the distinguished professor at Illinois State University in the US. However, Professor Riaz denied this allegation by claiming it as ‘fake’.
This ’controversial’ Ali Riaz has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh Constitutional Reform Commission by removing the pro-Liberation and progressive legal expert Dr Shahdeen Malik.
Feminist groups are not vocal on the issues of violence against women during this undemocratic and unconstitutional regime. Many of the key figures from the feminist groups are holding different positions in this unconstitutional administration. Some are waiting or lobbying for administrative assignments.
Some elements on the feminist platforms also benefited from Western donor agencies. Since this unconstitutional regime is backed by the US and various foreign agencies, that could be a reason behind this.
Elements in the various progressive and left parties have been used as fuel by the Islamist groups and Western agencies in the move, as well in conspiracies against the elected government led by Sheikh Hasina in recent years.
NGOs in some contexts in Bangladesh play the role of favouring agendas set by the donor agencies. This unconstitutional regime is a girlfriend of the West. For instance, in the US, civil society is designed to be silent.
Ashish Singh: Where does it end? I mean, treating women as secondary citizens. It is quite concerning for many of us to hear what you have said so far.
Anisur Rahman: There will be an end to it in Bangladesh. I am optimistic. People, particularly the working-class poor, are not that radicalised and hypocritical as we witness among the urban and semi-urban educated privileged sections.
On stage, the so-called educated people, echoing the voice of foreign patrons, talk of equality and women’s empowerment. On the other hand, they play an opposite role by patronising diverse radical groups. It is a double morality of Western superpowers as well as native elites.
People in general by now have exposed this hypocrisy. When people are hungry, they do not care for radical barriers, they find their way out.
The majority of the country’s population do have sympathy for and are loyal to religious practice. However, they do not appreciate radical ideologies. It has been proven during the Liberation War of Bangladesh and other democratic movements against military autocracy.
Islamist groups may visibly have many activists. But they do not have public support. It was proven in the elections for instance in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008. These elections were comparatively more appreciated in recent decades. In the 2008 elections, the Islamist radical party Jamaat-e-Islami could win only in two parliamentary seats out of 300.
Early free and fair elections will be a way out from radical as well as other undemocratic elements in the soil and sky of Bangladesh. And so will it be for women’s life in this country in this traditionally liberal progressive multi-ethnic society.
Photo- Artwork of Bangladeshi women by SM Sultan
(Ashish Singh is a social and political scientist.)
