Farzana Khan
April 17, 2016
Eng 1121-0465
Essay 3: First Draft
Crime, Education, and Politics: Women of Bangladesh
Susan B. Anthony once said, “men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” Bangladesh is one of the many under-developed countries to take heed of these wise words. Its population is one of the highest in the world, and the gender ratio is higher in females. Bangladesh is also known for being ruled, as of 2016, for the last 25 years by female Prime Ministers by electing Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Although the country has been ran by two female leaders, women’s rights issues are still being handled gradually. In the recent years, Bangladesh has been coming forth on acknowledging these problems and a quiet revolution is stirring up. Some examples of these issues are, crimes against women, education of women and the empowerment of women as well.
Crimes against women are growing rampant in recent years. Rape crimes are most prevalent in Bangladesh due to patriarchal customs. In many cases, women are blamed for the crime because they are looked down upon and their rights are somewhat not important in society’s eyes. According to an article written by Probir Bidhan, “The country’s laws are also riddled with loopholes that allow rapists to escape punishment, if they can prove the victim to be “characterless.”” The argument which arises in this case is that the victim was not dressed “appropriately” or she was out late at night by herself. Many women in Bangladesh fail to report violence committed against them because there persists a stigma surrounding rape. If the crime becomes publicized, the victim’s life could be at risk. Her reputation would be tarnished and she would also suffer the consequences of not finding a spouse who would marry her. Although rape crimes are growing rapidly, progress is slow, but surely present. Stricter laws and policies are being enforced to control these crimes against women, but many other crimes are still widespread.
Acid attacks are gaining rapid popularity since the chemical is easily accessible in Bangladesh. Many women fall victims to this crime when they reject a marriage or a love proposal. The reasoning behind this is, if he can’t marry her, no one can. Acid is mainly used because men do not want to kill, they want to disfigure the woman. Acid burns can melt the skin away, down to the bone so they often require expensive medical treatment, and many families cannot afford it. The victim is then left with a face that is barely recognizable. According to an article written by Ranjita Biswas, “Preventive measures include locking up shops in order to prevent the sale of acid, banning vehicles suspected of carrying acid and suspending acid selling licenses. If found guilty, perpetrators face a fine of up to 1,200 dollars, or, in more serious cases, capital punishment.” These type of incidents take place in rural areas because laws are rarely enforced. The communities are mostly indigenous and many of these crimes are infrequently reported. Many women’s rights activists are working hard to find an end to this crime, and some are slowly prevailing.
Dowry crimes are also growing widespread due to economic hard times, and high unemployment rate. Marriages are no longer seen as a bond between two lovers, it has now changed into a business transaction. According to an article written by Farah Deeba Chowdhury, “Husbands consider their wives’ income as a source of wealth accumulation.”  Many times, men pick their spouses in terms of monetary contributions they will receive from the marriage. The highest bidder wins. This medieval tradition has caused many women remain unmarried because of their families inability to afford paying dowry. These women are seen as a burden for the family from the day they are born. The dowry tradition exists more in the Hindu communities in Bangladesh as it originated from ancient Hindu culture.
