In Bangladesh, fundamentalists fixate on women’s clothing

They turn a blind eye to the corruption all around, but when it comes to women’s clothing, suddenly they’re outraged

What someone wears, who they spend time with, who they marry, who they sleep with – these are matters of personal freedom. In fact, they’re not just freedoms, they’re fundamental human rights. Whether someone marries within their religion or outside of it is also a personal choice. Many ignorant people in Bangladeshi society fail to grasp this simple truth. These people may not excel at much, but they are remarkably skilled at harassing women and their families.

Corruption is rampant all around – but they have no issue with that. Their only concern is women’s clothing.

The girl’s name is Nurunnahar Chowdhury Jharna. She is from Krishnapur village in Kulaura, Moulvibazar.

Jharna graduated in law from Metropolitan University in Sylhet. On December 26, she arrived in the United States for higher studies. Upon arrival, her teacher Jayturjo Chowdhury welcomed her at the airport and posted a few photos to mark her arrival. After seeing these photos, villagers from Jharna’s hometown made offensive comments. Not only that, her father was summoned by members of the Bhatera Bazar Jame Mosque Panchayat Committee and questioned about his daughter’s clothing. They even declared him socially excommunicated.

Who gave this so-called Panchayat Committee the authority to make such decisions? Ehsan Group embezzled 17,000 crore taka using religion as a shield – no one says a word. A corrupt person commits fraud – no one says a word. Bribery is rampant – no one says a word.

Children are being abused in madrasas – no one says a word. But a girl goes abroad for higher education and wears certain clothes, and her father is excommunicated? Absurd. Are we moving forward or backward? What more needs to happen before we admit we’re walking into darkness? We want a developed country like America, but we don’t want our daughters to pursue higher education. Where is the law? I urge Jharna’s father to take legal action.

And to those who are worried about Jharna’s clothing – stop obsessing over women’s bodies, clothes, movements, relationships, and marriages. Leave those decisions to the women themselves. Lighten up. Why waste your time worrying about others? Use that time to learn something or earn a living. If there’s sin, it’s theirs. If there’s punishment, it’s theirs. They’re not harming you or anyone else. You won’t be punished for their choices. So why the headache?

In this society, nearly everyone agrees on one thing: teaching women how to dress, blaming women for the moral decline of youth. Even those who’ve spent their lives in corruption, cheating, and selling adulterated goods speak up on this issue. Even the man who stole land from relatives and eventually took over a beggar’s home speaks up. Even the teacher who raped his students multiple times speaks up. Even the so-called moderate who terrorizes his family and community speaks up. Even the professional scammer joins in when it comes to lecturing women.

If you can’t find anything useful to do, and truly want to make a difference, then do something that benefits society. Look around – who’s hungry, who’s sick, who needs blood, who has no one to care for them, who’s living in helplessness, who’s waiting for a helping hand? Investigate those things. Is someone luring a minor? Is someone using force? Is someone committing fraud? Is someone adulterating food? Is someone abusing their spouse or child? Is someone stealing property? Is someone breaking the law or harming others with lies? Pay attention. Speak out. Take action.

Before questioning someone’s personal life, please stand in front of a mirror and take a good look at yourself. You’ll see you’re not satisfied with your own reflection. Try to fix those shortcomings. Half of life is spent proving your worth, and the other half trying to please others and battling uncertainty. Amid all this, how do you find time to research women’s safety, clothing, travel companions, sleeping arrangements, photo choices, and where those photos are shared?

Those who preach against Western culture – do you know that in Western countries, even a drunk woman walking naked down the street at midnight is completely safe? If she rides a bus in shorts or a bikini, no one elbows her or even stares. Society doesn’t decline because of women’s clothing. It declines when a large portion of society becomes inhumane and dishonest, and others follow suit. Clothing has nothing to do with it. At least, examples from humane and civilized societies say so. We follow them in science, economics, and education – but not in honesty or humanity. What will you do with labels like atheist, apostate, or infidel? Being blind doesn’t stop disaster. If we don’t accept the reality of a humane world, our time will only fall behind. Hypocrite people!

Clothing cannot protect anyone – this little girl is proof. In a society driven by rape, where women aren’t even seen as human, these beasts in the guise of men don’t recognize clothing – they seek flesh. Despite her desperate pleas, begging, and folded hands, she couldn’t escape assault. Even if the boy is punished, the girl has suffered lifelong psychological damage that won’t heal easily. These aren’t isolated incidents – they happen constantly. People only know because this one was caught on video. Now the clothing critics will ask – why was the girl in the reeds? No matter what happens, they’ll twist the story to blame the girl.

Video: http://fb.com/3511288795594257