'Women are scared': Dhaka University professor deems women's situation in Bangladesh 'pathetic'

Zobaida Nasreen, a Dhaka University professor who was one of the strongest voices during last year's student-led protest movement she has now expressed grave concerns over the worsening condition of women in Bangladesh in an interview with News18.

She is on a scholarship in Germany now and said the situation was "pathetic," pointing to how women are increasingly threatened and socially intimidated for voicing opinions in favor of their rights.

While discussing the present condition of the women in the nation she stated, "Women are frightened. Many have begun modifying their dressing sense not due to any legal necessity, but due to increasing social pressure. The psychological and social pressure is immense. They are living in perpetual fear and under huge stress."

Nasreen emphasized the role of women in last year's demonstration and how the attitude changed suddenly towards them.

"This is one of several moves being made to roll back the gains made by the women's movement in Bangladesh. Last year during the protests, there were a lot of women on the streets—even at midnight, in whatever they had worn. Nobody protested then. But now, the very same women are being subjected to abusive language and harassment."

"I also think that the NCP (National Citizen Party) is guilty of this. Their silence is deafening—they have not criticized this backlash, which indirectly condones the targeting of women" she went on to say.

Since the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of the present Muhammad Yunus-led administration, a women's affairs commission had made draft recommendations.

Commenting on the status of those proposals at the moment, activist Nasreen stated, "The proposals made by the women's commission, aimed at enhancing the status of women in the nation, have been rejected outright by fundamentalist forces. Worse, members of the committee are now openly threatened and maligned, with many being branded as 'sex workers' for silencing and discrediting them."