Women working in different sectors in Dhaka City and other parts of the country are routinely subjected to inhumane forms of exploitation, including physical and mental abuse. Women working at different emerging sectors including apparel have expressed their anger over the sexual harassment they often face in their working zones. Talking to this correspondent, a number of working women said they suffer from physical, psychological and economic abuses at their male colleagues.
Besides, on the way to their work places, they become victims of sexual harassments by men but they cannot protest against the offenders as there are no laws to ensure punishment.
However, they hailed the High Court’s verdict setting a guideline to deal with the issue and making it mandatory for all to go by the guideline till a law was enacted.
Sabiha Akhter Jhumur, a women working at a garment factory, said, “In exchange of ten hours labour, I earn only Tk 1900 per month as salary where a man earns more than Tk 3000 per month. With this little amount of money, I cannot afford two square meal a day. I always go to my work place on foot. It is nothing but a great discrimination between men and women although the government speaks about equal rights for men and women.”
She alleged that many garment workers are being victim of sexual harassment both physically and mentally by their superior authority. “If I speak the truth, I may be fired by the authority. In my factory, sometimes the manager calls the good looking girls to his room. There are a lot of allegations of sexual harassment but we have nothing to do as we are helpless in this regard.” Jhumur however, does not want to disclose name of the manager.
Another woman named Shirin Sultana said, “In the wake of repeated allegations of sexual harassment in some universities and some working places, the government should enact a law to curb the incidents of sexual harassments of working people and students. I am working at a media house as a reporter but still I often face some awful moments from my male colleagues. Besides, when I go outside for covering my assignments some people make indecent comments and I take it normally as I know it would be difficult for me to sustain here if I protest it seriously. I hope the government would enact a law as per the High Court guidelines to bring the offenders to justice.”
She said women face sexual harassment on way on transports, at working places, educational institutions, hospitals, at home and by policemen when they go to arrest accused persons.
Laila Nowshin, a fashion designer at city’s New Market, said, “If we want to see a society free of sexual harassment, there is need of changing the mindset of the society. I do not think much could be achieved by simply enacting laws and keeping the society as it is. The political structure of a country defines the character of an individual. So, the structure should be altered to achieve the goal.” she said, adding, “Before enacting the laws as per the HC guideline, views of women from every stratum of the society, including the working class, should be taken into account.”
Nazin Dola, a female student of Dhaka University also working at a private company, said, “We often speak about equal rights to both men and women. But the fact is that we are often subjected to sexual harassment and discrimination both in our work places and our universities. The court verdict would safeguard women and girls from harassment. The authorities of private and public universities should implement the High Court directives soon.”
It may be pointed out that The High Court on May 14 laid down a set of guidelines, including installation of complaint centres headed by women, to prevent sexual harassment of women and girls at educational institutions, offices, factories and other workplaces.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
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