File photo of the session room inside the Bangladesh Parliament Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
 

In the recently-held 11th general election, 22 women were directly elected among in 299 constituencies. Despite this, the percentage of women elected to parliament is less than 8%—not even reaching double digits.

With 50 seats already reserved for women, the total percentage of female representatives stands at 20.3%. 

Among the 22 directly-elected members of parliament (MPs), 19 are from the ruling Awami League, two from Jatiya Party (JaPa), and one from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD). 

Last year, the tenure of the reserved seats for women was extended to 25 years. However, until the major political parties nominate more women to run for directly-contested seats, a gender balanced parliament cannot be achieved. 

Women’s empowerment in politics on the rise
There is broad consensus that women’s increased participation in politics is necessary for both the democratic development of the country, as well as women’s empowerment in Bangladesh.

To encourage women to participate in politics, Bangladesh has taken initiatives to reserve a certain number of seats for women at all levels of government–national and local.

According to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2018, among 193 countries, Bangladesh ranks 92nd in the world with 20.3% female MPs. Rwanda holds first position with 61.3% of female representation in the parliament. Bangladesh’s position is better than that of the USA, Pakistan, India, Brazil, and Malaysia.

The country’s two major political parties have been headed by women for over three decades; but the number of women directly elected to the parliament remains low. 

According to the recent “Global Gender Gap Report 2018” published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Bangladesh has closed over 72% of its overall gender gap, retaining its topmost position among the South Asian countries in ensuring gender equality.

Experts say Bangladesh has been a role model for women’s empowerment in the past decade, and consequently the society has experienced a positive change because of the efforts made in this regard. 

Syeda Razia Faiz was the first woman ever to be directly elected in Bangladesh, as a candidate from Bangladesh Muslim League, in the second parliamentary election that took place in 1979. In that year, the number of reserved seats for women increased from 15 to 30.

Women members of the parliament throughout the history of Bangladesh
However, in 1988’s fourth parliamentary election, the constitutional provision to that effect had expired.

Again, the tenure for the reserved seats ran out during the election held in 2001, after the parliament enacted a law to reserve seats for women in the fifth parliament in 1991.

Meanwhile, with the 14th amendment, the number of reserved seats for women was raised from 30 to 45—prior to the ninth parliamentary election held in 2008—and then increased to 50 through the 15th amendment in 2011. 

During 10th election in 2014, 18 women were directly elected. However, five new women became parliament members through a by-election later on.

‘Reserved seats needed until favourable environment is created’
Mahabub Ara Begum Gini—thrice-elected MP from the ninth to 11th parliamentary elections, for Gaibandha 2 — said reserved seats are there for women’s empowerment.

“We still have to fight with the male population to obtain our rights,” she said. “Women’s empowerment is also needed for the economic development of the country. 

“For as long as a favourable environment is not created for women, reserved seats are an absolute necessity,” Mahabub Ara said. 

Ismat Ara Sadique—who was elected an MP for two consecutive terms in the 10th and 11th general elections for Jessore 6 — said: “Reserved seats would not be needed if men changed their mentality.”

She added: “The notion that women are not able to carry out the responsibilities of a position, as capably as men, has made the society neglect women. This notion should be changed as women have proven countless times that they are able to handle responsibilities successfully.

“Women are now more aware than before,” Ismat said. “They have learned to use their own judgment while making decisions. However, women still remain deprived as society continues to bring them down.”

Ismat also said reserved seats should be kept as long as a favourable political environment for women is not created. 

‘Women should be elected, not selected, for reserved seats’
The policy of selecting MPs for the reserved seats should be changed, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Ayesha Khanam said.

“The existing policy of selecting, not electing, women for the reserved seats should be changed,” she said. “Most of them are politically inexperienced and consequently drop out after a few years. They do not even have any role in decision-making.”

They should be elected instead, she said. Women in remote areas are hardly politically aware, she added.

The women’s reserved seats should be increased to one-third of the whole of parliament, said Ayseha.

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Bodiul Alam Majumdar echoed similar sentiments. “The reserved seats should be increased, but the patriarchal system of selecting women for those seats should be changed. This does not empower women.” 
Bodiul further advised to follow India’s rotating system of electing women representatives. 

Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Fahmida Khatun told the Dhaka Tribune, in July 2018 that Bangladesh is improving in the area of women’s empowerment,but to ensure sustainability, priority should be given to: in skills-development, higher education and capacity-building.

Meanwhile according to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) every political party must have women as 33% of its representatives.

The provisions of the RPO 1972 were amended in 2008; now all parties have to ensure 33%, one third, of women representatives in all sectors, including the central committees, by 2020.

However, all registered parties—including Awami League and BNP—are yet to fulfill this condition. 

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune

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Represenation Image

Bangladesh: Carrying scars of beatings, burns and broken bones, Bangladeshi female migrant domestic workers are coming back home from Saudi Arabia. Facing exploitation first through agents and families, these workers have also faced physical, mental and sexual abuse at the hands of their Saudi employers. According to reports, about 200 women return every month and at least 800 women returned home over the last four months.
 
“The Saudi Arabia National Recruitment Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh Association of International Recruitment Agencies or BAIRA to recruit house-helps from Bangladesh in April 2011. However, no women house-helps went to the kingdom despite the signing of the MoU, as an interview of 150 house-helps from Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka working in Saudi Arabia published in a report by Human Rights Watch in 2010 revealed ‘physical and mental torture’ on them. Saudi Arabia again signed a treaty with Bangladesh to recruit women house-help in 2015. The treaty included a clause that three male workers will be recruited against one female house-help. Bangladesh began to send women house-helps following it. At least 83,354 women workers were sent to Saudi Arabia last year. This year 30,000 women went to Saudi Arabia as of April. Almost 175,000 women house-helps went to Saudi Arabia over the last four years,” reported bdnews24.
 
The story is eerily similar for every woman that comes back. Almost all of them report being overworked, underfed, tortured, beaten, raped and cheated out of their salaries. When they return, their families refuse to take them back and, in some cases, even pronounce them dead even though they are alive.
 
The Middle East Eye reported that “The Bangladeshi government in the past claimed that the women returned home after being unable to integrate into Saudi culture.” “Followed by a visit to Saudi Arabia, members of a parliamentary committee said lack of knowledge in local language, dislikes for Saudi food and homesickness cause the women to return home,” reported bdnews24.
 
On Monday, a group of 11 organisations committed to migrant rights submitted a memorandum to EWOE (expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment) secretary demanding that the ministry take protective measures for women migrants facing abuses in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The participating organisations included Ain o Salish Kendra, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, WARBE Development Foundation, Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program, BRAC migration Programme and IMA research Foundation.
 
Ain O Salish Kendra’s observations
Sabrang India received a letter by one of the 11 NGOs, Ain o Salish Kendra from Bangladesh:
 
Physically and mentally tortured Bangladeshi female migrant domestic workers are returning to the country from different Middle-eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon. Most of them are returning with the help of Government or human rights organizations to save their lives. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern over this matter and demands the government’s effective and urgent attention to ensure safe and secure migration.
 
According to media reports, female domestic workers are returning to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia and other Middle-eastern countries after being brutally tortured. Human rights organizations like Ain o Salish Kendra are receiving applications requesting rescue on a daily basis either by the victims themselves or their family members.
 
Mostly, all of them share the same stories of brutality. We are receiving regular complains regarding the denial of wages, sexual abuse by the male family members, physical and mental torture by the employer, not allowing the cell phone or any connection with family or embassy, no set work time, no leave etc. Besides that, they face theft and sabotage case by the employer. Even if they could manage to escape, they are forced to return to the owner despite seeking shelter from police. They’re denied medical facilities and thrown outside the embassy or the road in case of a critical physical condition and the employers practice slavery by selling them to agencies without taking any permission from the embassy.
 
22 Bangladeshi female migrant workers have died due to rape and other reasons in Saudi Arabia. At least, 1500 female workers have been sent to Bangladesh from safe homes of Jeddah and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia in between May 2015 to May 2018. Most of the returnees have lost their working ability due to physical torture. Moreover, they are being humiliated by their family and society. Socially and economically, they are living in a vulnerable condition.
 
ASK wants to express that, the government has a responsibility to the female migrant workers who have gone overseas for a better life after completing due processes. The government cannot overlook the ongoing incidents of human rights violations of our female migrant workers. The safe and secure migration of these females must be ensured.
 
Recruiting agencies that are enabling this brutality must be punished and their registration must be cancelled. Otherwise, women’s participation in this important sector will decrease significantly. ASK also demands the government to guarantee health care facilities and rehabilitation of these victims along with better diplomatic tactics.

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Many female Bangladeshi workers who returned from Saudi Arabia say they suffered from subhuman treatment at the hands of their employers and the Bangladesh Embassy in the country did not conduct proper monitoring Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

More than 80 Bangladeshi women who used to work as domestic help in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have returned to Bangladesh this week.   

The poverty stricken women, mostly from rural areas in Bangladesh, flew to Saudi Arabia with hopes and dreams of improving their standard of living. But why are they now returning? 

Shariful Hasan, head of Brac’s Migration Program, said those who returned had various reasons for doing so, but physical torture and sexual abuse were chief among them.

 “We have talked to a number of the returnees, and their main complaint was that they were tortured there (in Saudi Arabia). Many of them spoke of how they were sexually abused,” Shariful told the Dhaka Tribune. 

Sources said 66 women returned on Saturday and another 21 on Sunday, due to various problems with their employers in Saudi Arabia. 

In 2015, the governments of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on sending female workers to KSA as domestic help. 

After receiving assurances from the Saudi government on the protection of female workers, the Bangladesh government sent 20,952 female workers to Saudi Arabia in 2015, while 68,286 went to the country in 2016, and 83,354 went in 2017. From January to April this year, a further 30,102 female workers went to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh.

However, around 5,000 female Bangladeshi workers have returned from Saudi Arabia since 2015, due to reasons varying from a failure to adapt to the foreign culture, to torture, sexual abuse, and irregularities in the payment of their wages, sources said.

Rokeya Begum, a 38 year-old mother from Noakhali district, went to Saudi Arabia in February this year and returned on Sunday. She used to work at the household of a wealthy family in Riyadh and her salary was fixed at Tk20,000 per month during recruitment. However, after working for three months, she was only paid Tk16,000 in wages. 

“I was tricked by the broker who arranged the recruitment. I was supposed to take care of an elderly woman at my employer’s residence, but they forced me to do all kinds of work, including cooking and washing. However, it was not a problem for me as I went there to earn money. My employer and his family treated me like a slave and did not pay me accordingly,” Rokeya told the Dhaka Tribune. 

“They did not even give me adequate food, clothing, and other daily essentials. One day, I quarreled with my employer over my wages and he got angry. Later, he whipped me, as did his family members,” Rokeya added. 

Hundreds of female Bangladeshi workers who have returned from Saudi Arabia have similar stories. Some even fell ill due to the severity of the torture they faced at the hands of their Saudi employers. Many of the returnees also said they had been raped by their employers as well as their   family members.

Mili Akhter, another returnee who arrived in Bangladesh on Sunday, said her employers in Saudi Arabia did not treat their domestic help like human beings.

 “They treated us very badly. As we do not understand their language, it is tough to communicate. When we did not understand what they said, they became angry and tortured us. There are so many sexual abuse cases concerning Bangladeshi domestic help,” Mili told the Dhaka Tribune. 

The returnees further said the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia was indifferent to the condition of female Bangladeshi workers in the country and did not conduct proper monitoring.

However, Bangladesh government officials said most of the female Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia were working without any problems and their condition was satisfactory. 

They added that those who return mostly do so after failing to cope with the new culture and environment.

Dr Namita Halder, secretary of the Bangladesh Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, said: “Some incidents of torture have taken place, but not all cases are the same. Around 80% of the female workers are working happily in Saudi Arabia while the rest of them have several reasons for coming back.” 

“One of the major reasons behind the returns is failure to cope with the environment and culture of the Middle East. They usually eat bread, their language is different, and the weather is very hot. Most of the time, our girls go there without considering the pros and cons,” she said. 

“After experiencing these difficulties, when they refuse to work, their employers become angry which results in unexpected incidents,” she added.

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune
 

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Where can women be safe in this country? DHAKA TRIBUNE
 

Bangla Tribune, one of the country’s leading online news portals, published one of my articles on Wednesday on violation against women in Bangladesh. In the piece, I thanked actor Mosharraf Karim for raising an issue of “decent and indecent attire of women” on a television program.

While discussing rape in Bangladesh, the issue of women’s attire came up and he questioned: “If indecent attire is the reason for rape, why was then a seven-year-old child and a burqa-clad woman raped?”

The audience didn’t understand Mosharraf’s question and thought he had attacked religion. Later, he apologized for asking that question regarding women’s attire.

My subject of today’s article is not Mosharraf, but the psyche of the male population in Bangladesh. When my Bangla Tribune piece was posted on its official Facebook page, the followers called me names and tried to brand me an atheist. More importantly (and surprisingly), some of the comments clearly stated that it was logical to violate a woman, if she allures men by wearing indecent attire.

For a moment, I felt sad about the shower of attacks against me, but later I was simply depressed realizing the Bangladeshi male psychology’s take on abuse and harassment of women.

Although most of the men who commented in the thread don’t represent the entire male population of Bangladesh, yet it was enough for me to fathom the partial picture. Most of them thought it is okay to rape a woman, if she wears “indecent” attire.

Appalling.

These people lack the basic understanding of what is abuse or harassment; at the same time, they also don’t have any idea about what religions say about the violence and harassment of women. As a man, I felt belittled by their attitude towards women.

This brings me to the overall picture of how men behave with the women of the country. According to a BBC Bangla report, citing research by ActionAid, about 50% of women have said they have experienced “uninvited touches” while they shopped in the market places. More than 42% of women have said that they encountered bad behaviour while seeking medical services in the hospitals.

The women who responded to the research survey also said they suffer from various kinds of physical harassment in their daily life which they don’t talk about. They don’t talk about it because they know there won’t be any action taken against such harassment.

Ask the women who commute on public transport every day. From bus conductors to other male passengers — everyone, irrespective of age, tries to take advantage of congested spaces within the vehicle and inappropriately “touch” female passengers, every chance they get. And there are plenty of chances, every day and in every bus.

Ask the woman who travels alone on rickshaws: How do the men driving the vehicle behave with them?

The roads, the schools, the workplaces, even their own homes are not safe from abuse and harassment

One time, a friend of mine experienced sexual assault inside a bus. When she protested and sought justice from the passengers sitting in the bus, no one said anything — as if nothing has happened, as if it was normal for the abuser to do what he did; and shockingly, in response, everyone told her to shut up.
On the other hand, the male-dominated media only talks about abuse of women on March 8, very year — on International Women’s Day. Otherwise, we keep silent regarding the gravity of this epidemic issue during the rest of the year.

The period reports of rape do surface in the media, but the follow-ups are never enough to address the issue effectively and thoroughly. At the state level, the issue of sexual violence against women is not addressed properly either.

A female colleague of mine was telling us that as women, they live in constant fear about being physically abused by men. The roads, the schools, the workplaces, even their own homes are not safe from abuse and harassment. Men utilize every opportunity to harass them. She also explained to us how women have developed their individual defense mechanisms. Some succeed, but most do not; and in either case, living a life like this is a constant trauma for them.

This condition doesn’t seem like healthy atmosphere to live in. Formulating laws haven’t helped much — women are still being physically abused when they step out of their homes, they are still deemed sexual objects by men, and they are still being battered in their own homes.

We couldn’t bring about any positive change among the men of the country. Well, some men say they are ashamed to observe other men’s attitude towards women. I guess that’s a change — at least, some feel, rightfully, ashamed.

Ekram Kabir is a story-teller and a columnist.

First published on Dhaka Tribune
 

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According to a report published by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers’ welfare platform. 21 women have been raped in public transports in last 13 months Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

At least 21 women were either raped or gang-raped on public transportation across the country in the last 13 months, according to a report published by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers’ welfare platform.

The report, published on Thursday based on media reports, also stated that nine of the victims were gang-raped by drivers and helpers of the vehicles.

Cases were filed in connection with all the incidents except a gang rape incident that happened in Manikganj on April 9, 2017. Police have so far arrested 55 people in connection with the incidents.

On January 21, 2017, a Dhaka University student filed a sexual harassment case with the Darussalam police station against a bus driver and an assistant of the Gabtoli-Nabinagar route.

The incident took place at Gabtoli Bus Terminal. Later, the police arrested the duo, according to the report.

A schoolgirl was gang-raped by an easybike driver and two others when she failed to pay the fare in Chuadanga’s Almadanga area on November 13, 2017.

On April 9, 2017, a woman was raped in front of her husband in a running bus on the Dhaka-Aricha highway.

On July 31, 2017, a girl was gang-raped in a bus of Padma Paribahan in Roumari, Kurigram on her way to Dhaka.

On the way to Narayanganj from Gazipur, driver Mahedi Hassan and his aid Sohan allegedly gang-raped a teenage girl on a moving truck on August 1, 2017. Police later arrested the driver.

On August 8, 2017, a man named Imran Hossain attempted to rape a girl in a car in Dhaka’s Banani area after kidnapping her. Police arrested Imran and seized the car.

On August 11, 2017, a madrasa student in Class VII in Mymensingh’s Muktagacha area was repeatedly raped by driver Joynal Abedin and helper Ripon. The police arrested them after the victim’s uncle filed a case.

The reports also mentioned that Zakia Sultana Rupa was raped and killed in a bus heading to Mymensingh by the driver and three of his assistants on August 25, 2017.

A Tangail court on February 12 sentenced the driver and his three assistants to death and handed seven years’ imprisonment to the bus supervisor for the offences.

This article was first published on Dhaka Tribune
 

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Shoaib Hossain Jewel is a Bangladeshi citizen, aged about 25 years, a Hafiz-e-Quran, and a teacher at a madrasa in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area.

Shoaib’s life took an eventful turn when he met Rafiza, an 18-year-old Rohingya woman, who with her family fled to Bangladesh from the Rakhine State of Myanmar, escaping what the UN called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” in Myanmar.

He fell in love with Rafiza when he met her at his teacher’s home in Singair where she and her family took refuge in order to escape starvation and disease at the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Shoaib decided to marry Rafiza but his dream of marrying her was shattered on the very day he started preparations for the wedding as the district administration deported Rafiza’s family to Kutupalong refugee camp at Cox’s Bazar on September 14.

Shoaib was informed by the local police that since 2014 the government had banned marriage between Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals.

Then, in quest of finding his beloved, he travelled all the way to Kutupalong Refugee Camp at Cox’s Bazar and traced Rafiza amongst the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees living in the makeshift shelters. Upon finding Rafiza, Shoaib married her at a mosque located inside the camp, with the consent of Rafiza’s parents. The marriage was conducted by the imam of the mosque in accordance with Islamic norms and principles.
 

The concern that Rohingyas are ‘allegedly’ using marriage as a tool to gain citizenship in Bangladesh can be addressed in other ways including incorporating policies or laws to prevent ‘sham marriages’ that were entered into for the purpose of attaining Bangladeshi citizenship by Rohingyas

However, they could not register their marriage and Shoaib returned to his native village in Singair, in Manikganj with his newly-wedded wife Rafiza. Upon their return, the police at the Singair Upazila were alerted and the couple ran away and hid in fear of being arrested.

In July of 2014, the government had issued a public order which banned marriage between Bangladeshi citizens and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Accordingly, the government had also issued an order prohibiting marriage registrars or kazis from registering any such marriages.

This year the government issued another gazette notification, directing marriage registrars to ensure that both brides and grooms are of Bangladeshi nationality before registering any marriage in “special areas,” namely Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Chittagong, and threatened with punitive actions if the kazis were found negligent in this regard.

The government claims that the ban/prohibition is intended to prevent Rohingya refugees from using their marriage certificates to obtain Bangladeshi citizenship and become permanent residents.

A writ petition was filed on December 10 challenging the circular passed by the government on October 25.

The petitioner is the father of Shoaib Hossain Jewel.

The High Court has heard the writ on December 14, and adjourned the matter until January 7, 2018.

There is generally no bar against Bangladeshi citizens marrying people from other nationalities.
 

Human rights violation

Dhaka University International Relations Professor CR Abrar told the Dhaka Tribune that this directive and other similar administrative orders are in conflict with several constitutional provisions and laws of the land.

Prof Abrar said: “The stipulation of securing a prior approval that is solely based on ethnic, racial or nationality consideration is a clear breach of international human rights standards. It also appears to be against the spirit of the Constitution of Bangladesh which guarantees human right and freedom of human person under Article 11.”

“In Bangladesh, Muslim marriages are regulated under the Muslim Personal Law (Sharia). From that perspective there is no bar for a Rohingya Muslim to marry an undocumented Myanmar national or Bangladeshi citizen who is also a Muslim and marriage under the Muslim Law (Sharia) is a civil contract requiring no ceremony or special formality,” he added.

Barrister ABM Hamidul Mishbah told the Dhaka Tribune that prohibiting or preventing Shoaib from registering his marriage with Rafiza, who is also a Muslim, on the basis of Rafiza’s Rohingya status, constitutes discrimination against Shoaib, on the ground of race and nationality.

“The concern that Rohingyas are ‘allegedly’ using marriage as a tool to gain citizenship in Bangladesh can be addressed in other ways including incorporating policies or laws to prevent ‘sham marriages’ that were entered into for the purpose of attaining Bangladeshi citizenship by Rohingyas, and on the ground that the parties never intended to be husband and wife, among others,” said Barrister Hamidul.
 

‘If the government of Bangladesh allows marriage registration, repatriation will be impossible’

Former law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed thinks the decision of the marriage restriction is a reasonable order by the government.

“If marriage registration happens, then they [Rohingya] might claim citizenship and that might create many problems,” said the former minister.

“If the government of Bangladesh allows marriage registration, repatriation will be impossible and the Rohingya people will not be able to return to their home.

However, Barrister ABM Hamidul Mishbah thinks this ban on marriage seemed to have failed to achieve its objective anyway, and has rather curbed basic human rights of Bangladeshi citizens who would wish to get married to a Rohingya citizen for a genuine cause.
Barrister Mishbah said: “This would also create room for law enforcement agencies to arbitrarily use their power against any Bangladeshi citizen like Shoaib, and would therefore constitute another set of illegality and corrupt practices.”

“It is not difficult to obtain fake birth certificates which can be used to apply for NID cards in Bangladesh. We have already seen in various newspapers that Rohingyas have applied for passports using fake documents and then got detected,” Barrister Mishbah added.
He further suggested that government could rather maneuver its own immigration rules to prohibit the Rohingyas access to various government facilities.

This article was first published on Dhaka Tribune

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The victim, who suffered torture and horrific abuse in various houses over almost two monthsBilkis Irani/Dhaka Tribune
 

Majeda (not her real name) went to Saudi Arabia in search of employment and a better life for her family. However, upon arrival, she found the dream had turned into a nightmare.

“I was told I would be working at a house in Al-Qassim with a large family,” Majeda said. “But when I got there, they were unlike any family that I had ever seen.”

Surrounded by scantily clad women and witnessing acts that “no brother and sister would perform,” Majeda soon realised that she had become a victim of human trafficking. Her view was only enforced when her new employers confiscated her phone.

Her harrowing tale began, though it did not seem so at the time, when Majeda was approached regarding employment in Saudi Arabia by two representatives of government-sanctioned manpower recruiting agency Aviate International in May this year.

The two in question were Rima and Hathkata Mohammed Ahmed, who share a flat in Gulshan 2.

Rima told Majeda that, even though the programme on offer was free, she would have better chances for employment if she paid some money. Excited by the opportunity to improve the standard of living for herself and her electrician husband, Majeda duly paid Tk80,000.

She left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia on June 23. After losing her phone to her employers at the “house,” the situation only got worse. Majeda found herself repeatedly being accosted by men and facing attempted rape. As she resisted the attempts, her employers beat and tortured her.

Out of desperation, Majeda decided she needed to find a way to contact her husband, lest he be unaware of her plight. This was by no means easy, as asking to make a phone call only meant a further beating in that house.

After nearly a month, she finally succeeded. Claiming she wanted to speak to her son, Majeda managed to get a hold of a phone and called her husband, recounting her terrible ordeal.

Her husband Ashraf (also not his real name) rushed to the office of Aviate International in Dhaka’s Bijoy Nagar to see if they knew anything of his wife, but was only told that she was fine by those at the office. They did not allow him to make a phone call.

In the following days, Ashraf went to the office of Aviate International on numerous occasions but always received the same answer. Furthermore, he started receiving threatening phone calls that demanded he ask no questions.

Meanwhile, Majeda was moved from the “house” where she was working to an office. There, she was imprisoned with 30 other women from various countries in a tin shed on the roof. Over the 12 days that she was confined to the shed, Majeda and the women were mercilessly tortured and beaten with the intention of driving a single message into their minds: “Do what you are told to at the houses.”

According to Majeda, her tormentor in chief was a man by the name of Abdur Turki, reportedly the proprietor of Al Mahatta recruiting agency.

Subsequently, Majeda was sent to another “house,” in Tabuk, where she was beaten so badly that, on the 15th day, Majeda had to be admitted to a Saudi hospital with internal bleeding. Men from the office where she was held took her there and brought her back after treatment.

However, Majeda managed to call her husband once more while at the hospital, imploring him to get her home as soon as possible.

After this second phone call and with Aviate International showing no signs that they would take action, Ashraf decided to try a new avenue to get news of his wife. He contacted a friend who had also gone to Saudi Arabia through Aviate and asked him to look for Majeda.

This friend managed to discern the location of the hospital by pleading to officials at the office where Majeda was kept captive, and met her at the hospital before they managed to take her away. He also took a picture of the injured Majeda and sent it to her husband. The friend subsequently received threats from the Saudi office for this very act.

Spurred on by and armed with this image of his wife clearly in suffering, Ashraf returned to Aviate International and confronted Rima.

Rima, however, said that Majeda was on a two year contract and it would require Tk3 lakhs to get her back.

Unable to gather such a large amount of money on short notice and growing more concerned for Majeda’s wellbeing with every passing day, Ashraf began approaching law enforcement agencies for support.

He filed a general diary (GD) with Ramna police station on August 8.

“Ramna SI Ataur went to Aviate office after this, and demanded that arrangements be made for Majeda’s return within 3 days,” Ashraf said.

When there was no action in this regard from Aviate, Ashraf filed another GD on August 10, this time with Gulshan police station, and went to the RAB-1 headquarters in Uttara. He also contacted human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).

On August 17, RAB contacted Aviate International and issued the ultimatum that there would be serious consequences should Majeda not be returned within three hours. That very day, Majeda was back in Bangladesh and saw her husband once more.

When contacted, Aviate International owner Mohammed Nurul Amin said that Rumi and Hathkata Mohammed were not employees of Aviate International, but rather helped them locate and recruit manpower.

He added that he was unaware if they took money from prospective applicants for overseas employment, saying that they may do.

Nurul Amin further said that Abdur Turki was the proprietor of Al Mahatta recruiting agency and is a good man. He denied having any knowledge of the other women kept on the roof of Al Mahatta, assuring that he would find out if there were more among them who travelled through Aviate and that he would help them return.

Majeda, however, was unconcerned through which agencies the captive women had ended up in that nightmare.

“Dilruba, Nilufa, Beauty, Golapi, Ayesha, Jasmine, Nazma … all these women are still trapped there,” she said.

“The Ain o Salish Kendra has urged me to speak out despite my fears and despite the threats my husband and I have received. We must save them.”

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune
 

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Nasrin Sultana, 48
Warehouse inspector, Fire Services & Civil Defence
Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune
 

Nasrin is a recipient of the President Award for her courageous service to people in disaster prone areas, fire victims, and fire control. 35 fire fighters work under her command at the Lalbagk Fire Station.

Who is your biggest supporter?
My elder sister Hasina Begum who gave me the courage to pursue my career.

What is the biggest obstacle for you?
I do not see any barriers. My job is risky but there is no room for excuses in my job. I am a fire fighter first and a woman second.

Why this profession?
Having the ability to save someone’s life is what made me become a fire fighter in 1984. There is also this sense of adventure which makes every day different and unique.

How do you balance professional and personal life?
My husband Yousof Ali is my support system, without him I would not be able to balance my personal and professional life. We have two sons and they all know that my work comes before everything else. They are the secret behind my success.

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Fahmida Mohsin, 33
Lieutenant Commander, Bangladesh Navy
Navy staff officer of Information and Technology Department and mother of twins
Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
 

Who is your biggest supporter?
My parents, they were both very supportive of my career choice. I saw my mother balancing a job and maintaining a family and realised that I could do that too. My father taught me to believe in myself and have courage.

What is your biggest obstacle?
It is having to spend so much time away from home. I have to be on call 24 hours a day and spend up to nine months at sea with mostly male colleagues. My supervisors are supportive and I have not experienced any gender  discrimination.

Why this profession?
The orderliness of men in naval uniforms made me want to join the Navy. I also graduated with an electrical engineering degree from Buet.

How do you balance professional and personal life?
With the support of family. When my twins were only a year old I had to go to India for three months. My husband who is also a naval officer and my in-laws took care of our children. Without them I would not be able to balance my career and personal life.

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Nazia Afrin, 27
Flight Lieutenant, Bangladesh Air Force
The first woman pilot to fly the Basic Trainer Transport Aircraft L410
Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
 

Who is your biggest supporter?
My father (retd) Group Captain Ilyas Akhand.

What is your biggest obstacle?
I refused to let anything get in the way of me becoming a pilot. I focused on the goal and did not stop until I made it.

Why this profession?
I grew up dreaming to be a pilot just like my father.

ow do you balance professional and personal life?
I have strict divisions between my personal and professional life.

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Sadia Binte Siddique, 23
Flight Lieutenant, Bangladesh Air Force
Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
 

She has been flying the helicopter known as Bell 212 for last two years which is mostly used for rescue and medical evacuation.

Who is your biggest supporter?
Coming from Barisal, one would not particularly have aspirations like mine but I had very progressively minded parents who supported my career choice wholeheartedly.

What is your biggest obstacle?
Men who think women should only be a housewife. It is a choice but women should be able to make any kind of career choices she wants and believes she can do.

Why this profession?
Being a pilot is exceptional. We also have very few female pilots in the force. I love the challenge and the adventure of being a pilot.

How do you balance professional and personal life?
Strict division between work and leisure time.

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Parbati Roy, 29
Lecturer, North South University
Parbati comes from the indigenous Chakma community
Courtesy
 

Who is your biggest supporter?
My mother. My aunt, my mother and a family friend supported me during my higher education at Dhaka University which led to a scholarship in Australia that changed my life.

What is the biggest obstacle for you?
Overcoming parental disapproval and work place discrimination. My father was so conservative that he did not want me to come to Dhaka for higher studies. I had to break that barrier and prove independence. At my old work place, I did not get support because of being an indigenous woman.

Why this profession?
I found more security and safety in the teaching profession.

How do you balance professional and personal life?
With support from my mother and husband.

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Afrosa Hasan Bindiya, 25
Hair and makeup artist, Deepto TV
A transgendered woman who has been working in the makeup industry for the past 12 years
Courtesy
 

Who is your biggest supporter?
My mother and sister.

What is the biggest obstacle for you?
People’s judgement. My father made me move out of our house because of the gossip I generated in our building. When I was in school kids treated me different but I slowly grew to accept who I was.

Why this profession?
When I first moved in with the transgender community, I felt I had finally found my home. I was happy. But I realised that there was no respect in the work that we do. I went back home and overcame many obstacles to find a 
Pakistani beautician, Naznin Khan, who trained me and now I am self-sufficient financially.

How do you balance professional and personal life?
With the support of my mother and boyfriend.

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Banchi Khatun, 42
A hawker selling cigarettes on the street, the breadwinner of her family
Courtesy

Banchi sells cigarettes to meet ends meet. She is the only person in her family with an income.

With the money she earns, she pays for her husband’s medical treatment and tries to send her son to school.

But she does not quit.

“I walk all day to sell cigarettes. After work, I go home to do chores, cook breakfast, lunch and sometime dinner.”

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Parvin Talukdar, 35
Street food vendor
Courtesy

Parvin is a street food vendor feeding rickshaw-pullers, day labourers, and drivers on the sidewalk.

Her husband is unemployed but helps with the chores.

“My workplace is not friendly and safe for a woman and I face many threats all the time.”

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Courtesy: The Dhaka Tribune

 

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