Women in Bangladesh are still held backwards and bounded by social norms. They cannot do as they please and have limited choice. The organisation 'Amrai Pari' (We Can) has called upon women to break the shackles and move forward to overcome the fear of the society.
The speakers made the call in an online discussion organized by the organisation on the occasion of Women's Day on Tuesday.
Shipa Hafeez, a member of the executive committee of the 'We Can' alliance, said that men should also come forward to eliminate social inequality. Everyone should be involved in the Women's Day movement. Men who do not get involved in it, can be identified as misogynists. Same goes for a woman who will not acknowledge equality because they are not cooperating with women who want to make lives of all women dignified.
Jaya Mohant, a student of Bogra Polytechnic Institute, said that female students were not allowed to leave the hostel after the afternoon. In the case of male students, there is no such restriction.
“Parents do not allow girls to go out at night for fear of danger. This means that women are considered weak. Women’s choice is not paid heed upon and their freedom is interfered with,” she said.
Rizia Parveen, a focal member of the We Can alliance in Bagerhat district, said that there were many setbacks at the beginning of the women's rights movement.
“Women are still being harassed at home and abroad. There has been some positive change,” she said.
She further said that women should also be responsible for carving the path to equal rights. There was supposed to be 33% women in political parties. There is a need of change in attitudes. The vision of seeing women as equal human beings has not come yet.
Farhana Hafeez, a member of the executive committee of the organisation, said that the fear of being raped must be overcome by women. Such an environment has to be created. State institutions must enforce the law properly.
The discussion ended with an oath to ‘break the darkness of night’ to make others aware of the crimes against women and stop violence against women.
