COMMEMORATING BEGUM ROKEYA

Women should play greater role
in nation building

Wajid Ali Khan Panni

The nation observed Begum Rokeya Day on December 8 to commemorate Begum Rokeya's revolutionary role in advancing the causes of women in this subcontinent. It was she who took the first step for awakening the Muslim womenfolk in the British India through education in an adverse environment.
   Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880 - 1932) started a school in 1909 for Muslim girls at Bhagalpur town in Bihar after her husband Syed Sakhawat Hossain's demise. But this noble venture faced many impediments, so she was compelled close down the school and moved to Calcutta where she opened the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in 1911. At the age of 21, she started publishing articles about the condition of women.
   By 1930, it was upgraded to a high school where Bengali and English were regular courses. In 1926, Rokeya presided over the Bengal Women's Education Conference held in Calcutta. She was active in debates and conferences concerning the advancement of women until her death in December 9,1932, shortly after presiding over a session during the Indian Women's Conference in Aligarh.
   Women constitute approximately half of the world's total population. While we consider the dual role of women in both productive and reproductive realm of life, their social contribution is more than men. Yet, participation of women in socio-economic and political process is far less compared to men.
   Given their social roles and responsibilities, women are disadvantaged with regard to access to resources and power compared to men. Women's civil and political participation implies women's capability to participate in all spheres of public and political activities and decision making process. However, the power relations that shape social, political, economic and cultural life prevent women from participating fully in all areas of their lives, whether it's in the home, or in the public arena. Even though women tried to assert their role in society and politics since time immemorial, through effective interventions, there still exists a cultural, religious and structural barrier which keeps women's position in society less significant than men. According to UN, "women's historic exclusion from political structures and processes is the result of multiple structural, functional and personal factors that vary in different social contexts across countries". Religion, patriarchy, military domination, lack of experienced women, family responsibilities, unfair party nomination process, lack of funding etc are some of the cultural and institutional factors which affect political participation of women.
   The movement towards gender equality in politics was greatly influenced by human rights and civil liberties movements of the second half of 20th century. However, as a movement towards equal suffrage rights, it started in 18th century itself.
   The Beijing conference envisaged to occupy at least 30 per cent of the political positions for women. However, as per the latest data of 2008, women occupy only 18 per cent parliamentary seats across the world. There is significant regional variation as well. It is evident that except Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden Denmark and Switzerland, all other countries women lags far behind men in political decision making roles.
   
   Bangladesh scenario
   In South Asia, women still face social and religious barriers which had affected their political and social participation. Bangladesh is not an exception, even though we proudly share the great tradition of Begum Rokeya who was the embodiment of emancipated and liberated women of the 20th century.
   The Constitution of Bangladesh grants equal rights to women and men in all spheres of public life [Article 28(1), 28(2), and 28(3)]. Various laws have been enacted and amended to protect women's rights: the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance of 1961, the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1974, the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1980, the Family Court Ordinance of 1985, and the Child Marriage Registration Act of 1992 etc are some of them. Interestingly, Bangladesh was one of the first among developing countries to establish a separate ministry for Women Affairs in 1978.
   Civil society and women's organizations have been a strong force in bringing forward women's issues and interests into the country's development agenda. Women were first elected to local bodies in 1973. The amendments to the Union Parishad Ordinance (1997) relating to provisions for direct election of women to one-third of the reserved seats in the Union Parishads have changed the overall scenario of women's representation at the local level. Government reserved three seats for women in the union parishad where women members are elected from each of the three respective wards. Apart from the reserved seats women can also contest for any of the general seats. Previously, the process of selection of the women representatives was on the basis of nominations and/or indirect election. The Government has already issued different executive orders to ensure women members' participation in various decision-making committees.
   The Upazila Parishad act 2009 recently passed by the parliament gives more role to the women and one of the vice presidents post are for women to be elected by the people.
   As a result of these measures, women have become more politically visible in our country than ever before. Among women politicians, the previous generation entered politics through social work and activism, while some among them and the new generation of women have emerged from student politics. Despite many odds, statistics and analyses, there is a growing trend towards women's political participation.
   Although our Prime Minister and leader of opposition in the parliament are women, it does not reflect the gender composition of participation and decision making at the highest policy level. At the ministerial level, women's representation has never risen above a certain percent. Political participation of women in Parliament remains profoundly weak and the effectiveness of their participation is even weaker. The very small presence of women in the political party structures and in Parliament is indicative of the very low level of their involvement in the country's political arena as well as in legislative process.
   
   Patriarchal value system
   One of the most important factor which limits women's entry into politics in our country is patriarchal value system that dominate in society. In a male dominant value system, women are preoccupied with household responsibilities which prevent them from actively participating political process. Moreover women's' entry into civic activities is looked down by the conservative society in general and religious associations in particular.
   Women like Begum Rokeya heralded a new era in Bengali women's emancipation during colonial times. In a critical period of history, when all women across the sub-continent were being crushed under the forces of the British Raj and traditional society; Begum Rokeya fought against the forces of religious and social forms of repression and highlighted the issues of gender equality and participation.
   Our women's organizations should imbibe the spirit of Begum Rokeya in their activities and struggle for gender parity in all walks of life whether political or non-political. Islam as a religion is not against women and there are several women who played great role in Islamic history including Bibi Khadeeja our holy prophet's wife and his daughter Bibi Fatima.
   Constitutional provisions and affirmative action can only overcome the legal barriers that hinder women participation in politics. As UNDP rightly says, "The qualitative impact of both participation and representation also requires a greater critical mass in order to more effectively influence legislative, policy and budget formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes".
   The writer is former Deputy Foreign Minister and High Commissioner of Bangladesh

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Special Correspondent

George Galway, a well known lawmaker in the British House of Commons, urged the Indian authorities not to construct the dam on Tipaimukh that would adversely affect Sylhet region.
   He made the comment while addressing the council session of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as a special guest speaker. The council was held in Dhaka on Tuesday with BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the chair.
   George Galway representing a sizable population of voters having origin in Sylhet in East London said he had visited the river Surma in Sylhet and was convinced that the Tipaimukh dam would a be dead threat to Bangladesh. He also referred to Farakka barrage constructed by India over the river Ganges and mentioned that the adverse impact on the western part of Bangladesh is already visible.
   He asked the Indian authorities to accept the just demand for Bangladesh in term of river water sharing. He also suggested that the Tipaimukh issue may be raised in the Copenhagen climate conference to draw wider attention. George Galway on behalf of Sylheti voters wished a grand success of the BNP Council and appreciated Begum Zia's leadership in especially in promoting female education in the country. He hoped that BNP under Begum Zia's leadership would grow stronger. He called upon Begum Zia and other Bangladeshi politicians to stand strong and united against the Indian construction of Tipaimukh dam.
   Daniel Briton of New Democratic Party of Canada said Bangladesh was facing challenges of environmental disaster, food security, population and the Tipaimukh dam

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Dr Yunus's vision: South Asian
Union by 2030

Holiday Report

Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus while addressing Indian parliament last week presented his dream of a well-functioning South Asian Union by 2030 with a common flag and common currency but no poverty within its precincts.
   Professor Yunus urged the Indian leaders to dream of making South Asia the first poverty-free region of the world by the year 2030 with a synergy of efforts of the countries in the region. The microfinance pioneer also forecast that by the third decade of the new millennium South Asia would have a range of creative and effective social business working throughout the region as a panacea to solve all the social problems.
   The Grameen Bank managing director noted that poverty is created by the system the humans have built, the institutions they designed, the concepts they have formulated. Poverty is an artificial, external imposition on a person. And since it is external, it can be removed. He observed that the present financial crisis across the globe provides an opportunity to redesign, recast, and rebuild. He said, 'We should not miss this opportunity to redesign our financial institutions. Let's convert them to inclusive institutions. Nobody should be refused access to financial services. Because these services are so vital for self-realisation of people, I strongly feel that credit should be given the status of a human right.'
   In the present interpretation of capitalism, human beings engaged in business are portrayed as one-dimensional beings whose only mission is to maximise profit. This is a much-distorted picture of a human being. Human beings are not money-making robots. The essential fact about human beings is that they are multi-dimensional beings. Their happiness comes from many sources, not just from making money, he added.
   He pointed out two kinds of businesses, one for personal gain (profit maximisation) and another dedicated to helping others. In one kind of business, the objective is to maximise economic gains for the owners, even if this leaves nothing for others, while in the other kind of business, everything is for the benefit of others and nothing is for the owners-except the pleasure of serving humanity. He proposes that bilateral and multi-lateral donors can create social business funds. Foundations can earmark a percentage of their funds to support social businesses. Businesses can use their social responsibility budgets to fund social businesses. The microfinance pioneer said there would soon be a need to create a separate stock market for social businesses to make it easy for small investors to invest in social businesses.
   About the government's role in social business, Professor Yunus said that governments would have an important role to play in the promotion of social business. They will need to pass legislation to give legal recognition to social business and create regulatory bodies to ensure that transparency, integrity, and honesty are ensured in the social business sector.

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Awami League wishes a stronger BNP

Special Correspondent

The ruling Awami League (AL) sent a four-member delegation to BNP's council session at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) held last tuesday. BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia inaugurated the fifth national council session of her party.
   Earlier on July 24 this year, BNP had also sent a two-member delegation to Awami League national council held at the same venue. AL, however, did not invite the BNP delegation to address the session. AL's Deputy Publicity Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil led the low-profile delegation carrying a message of goodwill from AL chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was invited to attend the function as a guest. "We, on behalf of Awami League, wish all success of the BNP council convened to reorganise the party," said Ashim Kumar Ukil while addressing at the opening session. Ashim Kumar, a former student leader, related the significance of the conference in December, saying that it was the month when the nation attained its independence in 1971. "It is the month when the country won victory in the united struggle against the autocratic regime of the 90s," Ashim Ukil said without naming HM Ershad, against whom Ashim himself had fought on the streets. The military dictator of the 90's, HM Ershad is now a partner of the Grand Alliance led by Awami League.
   Ashim Ukil hoped that a reorganised and stronger BNP would contribute towards strengthening democracy, galvanise the spirit of liberation and create a non-communal society in Bangladesh. Referring to 1/11 changeover he said: "We freed the country from autocracy in 1990 through joint movements. The 1/11 took place as the country was still not freed from autocracy despite elimination of an autocrat."
   Among the political leaders who spoke at the programme were Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) secretary general Shamim Al Mamun, Khelafat Majlish chairman Maulana Mohammad Ishaq and JAGPA chief Shafiul Alam Pradhan
   Bangladesh Jamat-e-Islami amir, Matiur Rahman Nizami, stressied the need for creating a healthy political culture so that the political parties can maintain co-existence despite their differences of opinion.
   Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish chiarman Moulana Mohammad Ishaq, Bangladesh Jatiya Party faction secretary general Shamim Al Mamun, Islami Oikya Jote faction secretary general Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami and Jatiya Ganatrantrik Party chief Shafiul Alam Pradhan also addressed the inaugural session of BNP council.
   Invited foreign political party leaders also spoke on the occasion.
   Respect Party lawmaker in the British House of Commons, George Galloway, called for imposing a moratorium on the construction of a dam at Tipaimukh in India. Daniel Briton of New Democratic Party of Canada said Bangladesh was facing challenges of environmental disaster, food security, population and the Tipaimukh dam. Mian Ijajul Hasan of the Pakistan People's Party, Sri Lankan tourism minister Fayaz Mostafa, also leader of the Lankan Freedom Party, and the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Xianyi on behalf of the Communist Party of China also spoke.

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