Equality and gender balance

A recent editorial in a local English daily titled "Oppression, suppression, deprivation' was a realistic analysis of the status of women in Bangladesh; applicable more to rural than urban women! Although we have adequate laws and regulations in place, the attitude of most men, lag far behind. That is the mental baggage that we men carry; rooted in our mind-set over the last few centuries! This is why possibly, implementation-wise we are still unbalanced in our attitudes and vision. Outdated social customs still roost the roots. In that respect, we are woefully underdeveloped; and women therefore badly deprived! This has to change if we are to develop as a nation; and change soon, starting from our rural society. Rural society is still very much male dominated; and the village "Mullahs" add to the problem, that needs to be corrected. Unfortunately this is true, in spite of the fact that Islam introduced equality of women. History shows that Hazrat Ayesha; wife of the Holy Prophet, was a successful businesswoman at that time! Historically, well before Florence Nightingale, Muslim women were providing medical succor and support to the Muslim fighters in the field of battle! Given this historical background, it is very unfortunate that gender equality is mostly opposed by today's Muslim men in rural areas. Women in rural areas are consigned to household chores only; and play no effective role in family matter, except as unpaid labor! It is therefore necessary that government agencies as well as social NGOs and concerned social leaders should take up the cudgel, and move forward to correct this fundamentally wrong attitude. May be it is a long and thankless job; but for the nation's improvement and development; this has to be a priority assignment; to enable our country to move forward. I will earnestly request our two political leaders, both very accomplished women themselves, to get together and put up a common policy and target to achieve this goal. It is their common cause in the interest of betterment of the lot of our women; particularly in rural areas. The sooner this common programme is taken up, the better for Bangladesh! Engr.S.A.Mansoor Dhaka.