May the human dignity of women in Bangladesh be established

Today, 8th March, 2025, is International Women's Day. The theme for this year's observance is "Rights, Equality, Empowerment - Development of Women and Girls." If we look at the theme, an inevitable question arises: What is the position of women in Bangladesh today? What rights do they have? How far have we come in establishing gender equality in society? What progress has been made in empowering women? And what role are we playing in the development of girls in society and the state?

There are many questions. Not all of them will have answers. In fact, some of these answers may create discomfort in some minds. This is because, in Bangladesh today, the human dignity of women is being diminished at every step. Violence against women is increasing at an alarming rate, and the number of rapes is on the rise. Even children are not spared. Recent media reports indicate that at least three children were raped in the past week alone. In such a situation, the development of girls is urgently needed. But it also raises a concern: With so many obstacles, how far can we go in improving the situation for women and girls?

Today's society and state are not woman-friendly. Instead, they are creating obstacles at every turn for women. Women in Bangladesh are still victims of the politics of clothing. Violence against women is increasing at an excessive rate. Women are subjected to child marriage and dowry practices. Far from empowerment, women's human dignity is virtually nonexistent in today's Bangladesh. Many women have advanced in education and employment, and have secured positions in high offices. However, this cannot be taken as an indication of women's overall empowerment. To understand this better, one must look at the marginalized women. It becomes evident that there is still a vast income disparity between men and women, and women are socially neglected and discriminated against.

To overcome this situation, economic freedom for women is essential. Furthermore, women must progress in education and culture, and for this, men must also become more tolerant and extend a helping hand to women. This is because society is still patriarchal. The culture, politics, and economy are still controlled by patriarchy. To establish "rights, equality, empowerment" for women, we must first break this patriarchal power structure.

International Women's Day originated from the labour movement, eventually becoming an annual observance recognized by the United Nations. It started in 1908, when nearly 15,000 women took to the streets of New York demanding shorter working hours, higher wages, and voting rights. A year later, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Women's Day. Since then, women in many countries have gained several rights, including the right to education, the right to vote, the right to work, and the right to empowerment. However, we must acknowledge that in many countries, women still have to fight for recognition as human beings. Women are still treated as second-class citizens in many places. In many countries, there is still a culture of politics that seeks to conceal women's presence.

Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam said, "Whatever is noble and beneficial in the world, half of it is created by women, half by men." Many men still get away with denying the contributions of women. To change this mentality, men must step forward first. At the same time, women must also rise and become stronger voices in the fight for their rights. We desire the human dignity of women in Bangladesh to be established. On the occasion of International Women's Day, we, at Views Bangladesh, express our deepest respect to all women across the world.