by Anisur Rahman
I had a views exchange meeting dated February 13, 2010 in Uppsala with the members of a Swedish support group for a non-government development organisation called Sabalamby Unnayan Samity---SUS based in Bangladesh. SUS is housed in Netrakona, 170 kilometer north of Dhaka.
The discussion was so fruitful and interesting that covered sexuality, religion, extremism, corruption, suicide, difference between Swedish and Bengali society, politics, controversial law enforcing agencies Rapid Action Battalion---RAB, its so called crossfire killing in Bangladesh, Dr Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank and his poverty trade in the name of poverty reduction, Burka debate and so.
In this piece, I would like to focus on Burka. I do not know whether there is any scientific reason for a woman to wear burka or not. A group member asked me what I would like to say about burka. I should say the weather either in Sweden or in Bangladesh does not support a woman to wear a strange dress-up like burka. My mother used to wear burka as once she was so influenced at the propaganda by the so called mullahs (Islamist leaders?) and started to wear burka. Noticing it, I talked to her and showed the arguments why a woman does not need to wear burka. She was convinced and now she does not wear it.
My younger sister is a graduate student in Bangladesh. During her pre-graduate schooling, she told me as her college had offered two options for girl students---either burka or college dress with particular coloured as well as designed salwar-kamiz. I suggested her to choose college dress. It seemed to me as she was so happy at such a suggestion from me.
One of the group members asked me if Sweden should support burka or not as the land is committed to liberalism in society. I responded, ‘Sweden should neither support nor oppose burka.’ Then she said, but there is debate and it must be elaborated. Then I pointed as saying Sweden does already have such rules and laws that do not permit such a peculiar dress. Then she said what is it.
My observations were as: To apply for a Swedish visa, one has to submit such photos that must show clear look of one’s face particularly hair, two ears and so along with application form. Same is for Swedish ID. If someone needs to prove as this is she herself showing her id or visa or passport, she has no way to wear burka in Sweden. It is clear. If one does have any business at post office or bank if it requires as she must prove herself as this is she in that case there is no way to wear burka.
I visited Radio House in Uppsala as I had an interview with journalist Ulla de Verdier last week. At the entrance there is a calling bell along with camera. I called the lady at reception. She saw my face on camera from her room, was confirmed of my look and opened the door. What will be if someone is in burka?
In the excuse of burka, or liberalism for free expression, we cannot allow any security threat in any country. In Bangladesh and other countries, the smugglers are using burka to carry arms and drugs.
Some are arguing as burka is an honour and protection to women. What is the honour? They respond, ‘They will be protected from illicit looking and teasing by people.’ Why should a woman has to pay if someone looks illicitly or teases her? It is clearly criminality in that person concerned and he should be punished. If it is necessary, he could be suggested to wear burka. One of my facebook friends wrote to me as burka is for saving the women from any rape alarming. I responded to him, ‘Today in some countries men are also targeted of sexual abuse even in Sweden. Why we are not suggesting burka for men?’
If burka is mandatory in Muslim majority countries as per the whim of so called Islamist fanatics what will be the fate of paintings, sculptures, cinema, theatre and literature.
When radio was invented, the mullahs said as if it were a box of Satan. They told the same when television was discovered. They made same propaganda in case of loud speaker. Today, the same mullahs are using those scientific discoveries.
If a woman does really feel and need to wear burka, it should be her personal choice and it is better she does not need to come out. Her house should be the right place. None will see her and say anything to her in that case.
It is somehow impossible for working women in particular sector to work wearing burka. Notably it is impossible for women working in agri farms to wear burka. How they will work wearing such a peculiar dress. Should they starve in the excuse of burka? When women are in starving, mullahs have nothing to say. On the contrary, to disturb women’s progress they have many sayings. In that case, I would like to say if burka matters anything regarding religion or faith or Allah. It must be His business not mullahs. Please leave it up to Him.
Supporting burka, we cannot favour talebanism in any country. In the name of campaigning in favour of burka, the people in line with taleban spirit simply want to stop women’s progress and empowerment.
Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir and their like minded political elements in Bangladesh are on campaign for burka. The same elements in 1971 committed many crimes including rape and killings during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Jamaat-Shibir has strong network with talebanised international terrorist groups. They raped some two hundred thousands women in 1971. They raped many minority community women aftermath of parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in 2001.
It is very clear as burka is not a religious problem, it's a question of liberty and women's dignity. Even it is not a religious symbol, but a sign of subservience and debasement. Islamist mullahs are afraid of women’s progress as they usually do not have supports from women. Women are like enemies to them.
Campigning for burka, mullahs are trying to make women prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. That must not be an idea for liberal society either in Bangladesh or Sweden or elsewhere. #
I had a views exchange meeting dated February 13, 2010 in Uppsala with the members of a Swedish support group for a non-government development organisation called Sabalamby Unnayan Samity---SUS based in Bangladesh. SUS is housed in Netrakona, 170 kilometer north of Dhaka.
The discussion was so fruitful and interesting that covered sexuality, religion, extremism, corruption, suicide, difference between Swedish and Bengali society, politics, controversial law enforcing agencies Rapid Action Battalion---RAB, its so called crossfire killing in Bangladesh, Dr Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank and his poverty trade in the name of poverty reduction, Burka debate and so.
In this piece, I would like to focus on Burka. I do not know whether there is any scientific reason for a woman to wear burka or not. A group member asked me what I would like to say about burka. I should say the weather either in Sweden or in Bangladesh does not support a woman to wear a strange dress-up like burka. My mother used to wear burka as once she was so influenced at the propaganda by the so called mullahs (Islamist leaders?) and started to wear burka. Noticing it, I talked to her and showed the arguments why a woman does not need to wear burka. She was convinced and now she does not wear it.
My younger sister is a graduate student in Bangladesh. During her pre-graduate schooling, she told me as her college had offered two options for girl students---either burka or college dress with particular coloured as well as designed salwar-kamiz. I suggested her to choose college dress. It seemed to me as she was so happy at such a suggestion from me.
One of the group members asked me if Sweden should support burka or not as the land is committed to liberalism in society. I responded, ‘Sweden should neither support nor oppose burka.’ Then she said, but there is debate and it must be elaborated. Then I pointed as saying Sweden does already have such rules and laws that do not permit such a peculiar dress. Then she said what is it.
My observations were as: To apply for a Swedish visa, one has to submit such photos that must show clear look of one’s face particularly hair, two ears and so along with application form. Same is for Swedish ID. If someone needs to prove as this is she herself showing her id or visa or passport, she has no way to wear burka in Sweden. It is clear. If one does have any business at post office or bank if it requires as she must prove herself as this is she in that case there is no way to wear burka.
I visited Radio House in Uppsala as I had an interview with journalist Ulla de Verdier last week. At the entrance there is a calling bell along with camera. I called the lady at reception. She saw my face on camera from her room, was confirmed of my look and opened the door. What will be if someone is in burka?
In the excuse of burka, or liberalism for free expression, we cannot allow any security threat in any country. In Bangladesh and other countries, the smugglers are using burka to carry arms and drugs.
Some are arguing as burka is an honour and protection to women. What is the honour? They respond, ‘They will be protected from illicit looking and teasing by people.’ Why should a woman has to pay if someone looks illicitly or teases her? It is clearly criminality in that person concerned and he should be punished. If it is necessary, he could be suggested to wear burka. One of my facebook friends wrote to me as burka is for saving the women from any rape alarming. I responded to him, ‘Today in some countries men are also targeted of sexual abuse even in Sweden. Why we are not suggesting burka for men?’
If burka is mandatory in Muslim majority countries as per the whim of so called Islamist fanatics what will be the fate of paintings, sculptures, cinema, theatre and literature.
When radio was invented, the mullahs said as if it were a box of Satan. They told the same when television was discovered. They made same propaganda in case of loud speaker. Today, the same mullahs are using those scientific discoveries.
If a woman does really feel and need to wear burka, it should be her personal choice and it is better she does not need to come out. Her house should be the right place. None will see her and say anything to her in that case.
It is somehow impossible for working women in particular sector to work wearing burka. Notably it is impossible for women working in agri farms to wear burka. How they will work wearing such a peculiar dress. Should they starve in the excuse of burka? When women are in starving, mullahs have nothing to say. On the contrary, to disturb women’s progress they have many sayings. In that case, I would like to say if burka matters anything regarding religion or faith or Allah. It must be His business not mullahs. Please leave it up to Him.
Supporting burka, we cannot favour talebanism in any country. In the name of campaigning in favour of burka, the people in line with taleban spirit simply want to stop women’s progress and empowerment.
Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir and their like minded political elements in Bangladesh are on campaign for burka. The same elements in 1971 committed many crimes including rape and killings during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Jamaat-Shibir has strong network with talebanised international terrorist groups. They raped some two hundred thousands women in 1971. They raped many minority community women aftermath of parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in 2001.
It is very clear as burka is not a religious problem, it's a question of liberty and women's dignity. Even it is not a religious symbol, but a sign of subservience and debasement. Islamist mullahs are afraid of women’s progress as they usually do not have supports from women. Women are like enemies to them.
Campigning for burka, mullahs are trying to make women prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. That must not be an idea for liberal society either in Bangladesh or Sweden or elsewhere. #
Photo courtesy: http://operationitch.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/burka.jpg
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