Women's position today is the result of historical continuity

Women have participated in the language movement and the liberation war cooperating in various ways; and last time, we saw women participating in a large number in the unprecedented mass uprising of 2024. But it is very sad that since the ouster of Awami League government women have been excluded from various state and social positions and discussions in various ways. In many places 'women are just being made non-existent'. Why is this happening? The tendency to deny women's contribution has been continuous since historical times. Women who participated in the language movement have been made non-existent, and women who participated and contributed to the liberation war have not been given due respect and dignity. In the liberation war, women were 'only victims of rape', this identity has been brought forward. In our art-literature-film-politics everywhere. As if women had no other contribution to the liberation war except the identity of 'rape'. This has happened because of the patriarchal society. We live in a male-dominated society and state — whether developed or underdeveloped — societies are male-dominated everywhere. As a result, if five men want to, they can push 10 of our women away. They can do it in any way, because the leadership is in their hands.

Now, the patriarchal attitude has entered into the psyche of many women. Even though our two women have been prime ministers more than once, the women of this country have not been very well-off. This is because those two women are actually patriarchal. Their bodies are of women; but their brains are men. Many of our powerful women also have this patriarchal mentality. Therefore, the position of all women cannot be judged by the power of two or four women. Our ordinary women are still victims of neglect, deprivation, and various oppressions. Now, it is increasing day by day.

Why did the women of the July mass uprising suddenly disappear? It seems like magic to me. I saw them at the forefront during the mass uprising, they are still there in the video records; but after the uprising, they completely disappeared. They were not seen again. A party has been formed by the coordinators; the government was formed - no women were seen anywhere. It cannot be that women who risked their lives and stood in front of the gun disappeared on their own accord. I will not believe it if anyone says this.

Women are becoming more and more distant from men by making themselves women. Now I think what is the solution? Who is winning by making women disappear? Men are winning. Every year March 8 comes, we write about these things, but there is no result. Not today, but since the day I started writing, since 1980, I have been writing, saying; but I do not see any progress for women. Maybe the number of educated women has increased, their employment has increased; but has respect towards women increased? I do not see any increase in the respect towards women in these 40 years. Now I see more disrespect than respect. Rape is happening everywhere, women are being subjected to oppression inside and outside the home, women are being tortured in any way men want.

Now women are not able to come forward. Rather, they were before. Sufia Kamal was there, Jahanara Imam was there. Where have such women gone now? If women are not allowed to come forward, what will we do with March 8? I don't see any benefit in it.

The tendency to deny women is not only political and cultural, there is also a lot of religious propaganda behind it. Many of our religious leaders are making religion themselves. They are making new fatwas. They cannot speak without insulting women. It is impacting society, casting a negative impact on women.

I used to say all my life that I am optimistic; but now I can't say that. I don't know why women are being gradually eliminated. When we were students, we saw that there was no difference between men and women. We had many male friends. We didn't make any difference between ourselves. But now I see that boys and girls have become separated. When taking pictures, boys stand on one side, girls stand on the other. In the field of literature, I see boys chatting with boys, girls chatting with girls separately. In our time, there was no concern about who is a boy and who is a girl. Even when traveling, men and women go separately. What else should I expect from this? Now, we can't even talk about these things. If you raise an objection, a group will protest.

Women are now victims of clothing politics. Women's clothing is always being talked about. Now, we can't even talk about these things. While women in Iran and Saudi Arabia are leaving their homes, more women in our country are being cornered into homes. Yet, the number of rapes is increasing, the number of violence against women is increasing. Even if women are covered with veils, rape cannot be stopped. Many women don't understand this, saying that choosing their clothes is their freedom. Recently, they have started saying 'my clothes are my freedom'; but it is actually the subjugation to clothes.

I actually feel suffocated. My chest is bursting; but I can't say anything. I don't understand what the point is even if I say it. Now, there is no such thing as women's awakening in art and literature. Although many people are writing well now; but there is no such thing as women's awakening, women's rights among them. Women have been shrinking everywhere. This is because there is no practice of progressivism in society. I also want to keep hope alive. If light comes again in our country, and progressive politics is practiced, then maybe women will be liberated; but I don't see any such signs in the near future. Maybe it will be after another 20-30 years. Our daughters may not see it either, their daughters may benefit, because a country cannot continue like this for a long time. This is the last hope that women will be liberated at some point. Geographically, we are neither Afghanistan nor Iran.

The girls of this country have to work outside to earn a living. Will this country survive if the girls in the garment industry quit their jobs? There are a lot of women working in the outside world, that is the hope. The liberation of women is not possible without economic liberation, I have said all my life. Now a lot of women are economically successful. Women's earnings are becoming essential in families too. I am optimistic that women will one day turn around through this essential position. Would any sensible person like to be tied to the chains of subjugation for the rest of their lives? I am waiting for that day - one day the girls of this country will stand up. I tell women to be a little aware, to know about themselves, to know about their rights. The day the women of our country will be liberated, March 8 will be successful.

Nasreen Jahan: Fiction writer