Looking at present-day Bangladesh through Rokeya’s mirror

• Main Author: Hasan, Md. Mahmudul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Daily Star 2022
• Subjects: HQ1101 Women. Feminism; JF799 Political rights. Political participation
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/101852/1/101852_Looking%20at%20present-day%20Bangladesh%20through%20Rokeya%E2%80%99s%20mirror.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/101852/; https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/looking-present-day-bangladesh-through-rokeyas-mirror-3191611

The key message in Rokeya's writing is the need to ensure justice for all and in all aspects of life that include gender egalitarianism. In a society where justice as a basic principle of the rule of law disappears, all of its disadvantaged sections including women suffer. In present-day Bangladesh, the political underdogs continue to bear the brunt of the use of force by those in power. Under such circumstances, a ceremonial, ritualistic commemoration of Rokeya Day may not do justice to the deep respect we have for this towering writer of the early twentieth century. Rokeya is holding up the mirror to us. Do we – especially those in power – dare to stand in front of the mirror and see what we have done to ourselves as a nation?