Growing concern over safety of working women

Keeping pace with the times, women have stepped out of their homes, breaking societal barriers. They are working alongside men, excelling in both physical labor and intellectual professions. Women are proving their capabilities in challenging fields. However, in a patriarchal society, they continue to face various social obstacles, discrimination, and insecurity.

Amid this fear of insecurity, the holy month of Ramadan has begun. Naturally, the capital city becomes eerily quiet after iftar, causing working women to feel anxious about returning home or even moving around freely.

News reports frequently highlight cases of rape and violence against women across different parts of the country, including Dhaka. Women who step outside for work or other reasons in the capital are particularly vulnerable to security threats.

Sarika, a journalist, works in Karwan Bazar and often has to return home late at night. Since her residence is in Mirpur, she commutes via metro rail, buses, or rickshaws. She shares her distressing experiences, saying that almost every night, she faces uncomfortable situations.

She also expresses concerns over the behavior of rickshaw pullers, who sometimes ignore main roads and take quieter alleys, increasing her fear of possible mugging or worse.

On March 3 (the second day of Ramadan), around 7 PM, Sheikh Sanjida, a private employee, was waiting for a bus to Mirpur at Jasimuddin, Uttara, along with a few others.

She said, “I always feel scared at night. With the rising cases of rape, mugging, and harassment, walking alone is terrifying. I cannot fully trust ride-sharing services like Pathao or Uber. Even traveling by bus feels unsafe. Since the roads become deserted after iftar during Ramadan, the fear is even greater. For the rest of Ramadan, I will try to reach home before iftar.”

Sayyeda Israt, a university student residing in Farmgate, was mugged on her way home after tutoring students. This incident left her mentally devastated.

She commented, “The increasing cases of rape and mugging make women’s lives vulnerable. It seems as if choosing a profession itself is a crime for women in this country!”

According to a survey by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), in February alone, at least 107 women and children were victims of violence. Among them, 53 women were raped, including 13 cases of gang rape. Additionally, 33 women lost their lives due to domestic violence, while 104 cases of child abuse resulted in 29 deaths.

Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, remarked, “The fragile state of our society is now evident. The weak are continuously being harmed by the strong. Until mob violence is controlled and law enforcement improves, women’s security will remain in jeopardy. We must urgently find a way out of this societal breakdown, or the situation will worsen.”

Referring to the recent "Orna (scarf) incident" at Dhaka University, she said, “This incident has severely tarnished the reputation of the university. The Vice-Chancellor and the Proctor have failed to resolve the matter effectively.”

Dr. Fauzia further stated that such incidents do not only harm women but also violate the constitution and bring the entire social system into question.