“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”― Audre Lorde
“Everything that is experimented on the Hills will be implemented in the plain land.” —Kalpana Chakma
Dear Reader,
We are a newly formed collective of activists, artists, researchers, teachers, human rights defenders, and individuals from systematically oppressed communities who were actively a part of the mass uprising against the Hasina regime and who have in various capacities worked on issues regarding ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. Having witnessed both this movement and many others, we have observed that a few concerns always become sidetracked, deemed divisive or straight up dismissed as not “political” enough or “urgent” enough. Until the fall of the regime, we did not speak up actively about these since all of us were prioritising the One Demand among our many demands, dreams, and aspirations. While everyone is rebuilding and challenging the existing oppressive structures, we would like to call attention to a few concerns.
In recent years, this movement has seen significant participation from individuals of various ethnicities, classes, genders, and sexualities. However, it has increasingly become dominated by cisgender Bengali middle-class males. Media coverage of revolutionaries who are not male has been minimal, and the contributions of women, girls, indigenous people, and working class people who have been injured or lost their lives are often overlooked.
We call upon the different civil society organisations, student groups, community collectives, media hubs, law enforcement agencies, and the interim government to ensure that the spirit of “Anti-Discrimination” is ensured in all strata of society. Inequality across ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, and class needs to be addressed quickly and effectively. Trying to innovate towards a modern and smart Bangladesh, and building monuments of progress is reminiscent of the colonial era, but we need to shift focus towards care for our communities, people, non-human living beings, and ecosystems. Considering that (sociopolitical) class does not encompass the diversity of cultures and knowledge practised by different working classes, peasant, and local communities – the framework must identify these communities and push for a pluralist approach. The divides and cultures of using the internet are widely different; even the configurations of religion, gender, sexuality etc are also diverse among the various constituents. This diversity is the strength of Bangladesh and should be kept at the forefront. To do so, a strong intersectional feminist approach must be taken. For an extensive list of our (draft) observations and demands see the link.
“The personal is political”
Demands:
- Parliament must be intersectional and inclusive, with strong representations of the different historically marginalised groups.
- Consult and listen to the demands of the different marginalised (Hill tracts and Plain land Indigenous) groups, including constitutional acknowledgment of the “Adivasi” people. We endorse the 11 demands that the Adivasi communities have put forth.
- Living wage for tea garden, garments factory workers, and other informal and semi-formal workers.
- Basic necessities should be affordable and accessible, such as food, education, healthcare, housing, and transport.
- Fix fair pricing for fresh produce and monitor middlemen to prevent imbalance in pricing of basic necessities and the amount received by farmers. Crackdown on rent collection by party members and gangs to protect small businesses.
- Reform in rape law to expand the definition of rape, include the notion of consent and marital rape. Expand the notion of rape to include same-sex rape and/or rape of men by women.
- Send all the defence forces back to the barracks. Demilitarise the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
- Stop the regulation and policing of individuals’ sexuality and expression. Multiple initiatives should be taken to bring about this cultural reform, stop slutshaming and harassment in communities, families, education system, and state.
- Repeal the colonial laws that criminalise diverse sexual practices and gender expressions. Pass an inclusive Trans bill that legally acknowledges the identities of Hijras, transgender women, men and diverse non binary peoples. Make a similar provision for intersex people. Give all diverse peoples access to life-affirming healthcare and support.
- Reform the anti-discriminatory policy to create better safeguards for people of marginalised communities.
- Repeal the draconian CyberSecurity Act and dismiss all cases under the CSA, DSA, and ICT Act. Dissent and discourse cannot be suppressed in a democracy.
- Ensure all public spaces are free and safe for individuals, small and large gatherings of women, and other marginalised peoples.
- Ensure that civil servants are trained appropriately to be well-informed and sensitised about the diverse people they serve.
- The judiciary system should ensure due process, and political leaders with multiple corruption cases should be tried or punished as verdicts are given, including prominent figures.
- The bureaucracy of the state apparatus and the constitution must be reformed, and multiple local initiatives must be taken to cultivate and foster these practices. The family tree and finances of senior civil servants should be accessible to the public to ensure that the relationships that build power among the different institutions are not obscured.
- Student politics made the movement and uprising possible and should not be banned across campuses. Activists, teachers, and students should initiate robust conversations about politics, legitimacy, and power to encourage a democratic process.
- All the injured students, martyrs, and citizens must be given care and compensation. All those who are unnamed and unidentified must be honoured.
- RAB and other unconstitutional paramilitary forces must be dissolved. Those who have been held unlawfully by the paramilitary and other forces during the previous regime(s) must be released immediately. The murders that have not been accounted for or investigated properly over the past years must be investigated, including but not limited to Sagor-Runi, Xulhas-Tonoy, Munni, Major Sinha, and Mushtaq Ahmed. Victims of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings must be accounted for, and perpetrators brought to justice.
This has to be a country that welcomes people like Rokeya Shakhawat, Kalpana Chakma, and the countless others who challenged power and spoke truth to power. Otherwise, our dream of a pluralist democracy will be a meaningless sham.
We, the undersigned, hope that the government of leaders who have taken oath will also take an oath at Shahid Minar to pledge their allegiance to the people and help us all take steps towards an equitable society. We would like to end with one quote.
“When we revolt it’s not for a particular culture. We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe.”― Frantz Fanon
In solidarity,
DIVERSE FEMINISTS COLLECTIVE | বৈচিত্র্যময় ফেমেনিস্টগণ
Signatories
- Kazi, Activist
- Shanaj Parvin Jonaki, Activist
- Raqiba Amatul Karim, teacher and doctor
- Nirnoy H Islam, teacher and researcher
- Efad Huq, Professor
- Nooha Maula, Lecturer, BRAC University
- কাজী তাহ্সিন আগাজ অপূর্ব, শিল্পী, কিউরেটর
- Walid Hasan, Student, Brac University
- Farah Naz Moon, Artist
- Anonymous, Architect
- Sayeda Tashnuba Jahan, Lecturer, BRAC University, Physics and Mathematics
- Saydia Gulrukh, Journalist
- Ace, Artist
- Rishov Aditya Student, BRAC University
- Nasrin Siraj, Anthropologist and film maker
- Doito Bonotulshi, Architect
- অলিউর সান, প্রভাষক, ইউনিভার্সিটি অব লিবারেল আর্টস বাংলাদেশ
- Isaba Shuhrat Student, MSS, Jahangirnagar University
- Kazi Meheru Tasfia, Student at North South University. English Literature.
- Samia Rahman Preema, Journalist
- সিফাত নওরীণ বহ্নি, অ্যাডভার্টাইজার
- Kanita Rydwana, Student, Brac University
- Kyasing Marma, Student
- Labiba Binte Fatima, Student, brac university
- অনিরুদ্ধ অনু , শিল্পী এবং এক্টিভিষ্ট
- Ipshita Bonhi Upoma, Lecturer, Brac University
- কাব্য কৃত্তিকা , প্রভাষক ও গবেষণা সহযোগী, ইউনিভার্সিটি অফ লিবারেল আর্টস বাংলাদেশ
- Paddmini Chakma, Photographer
- Mouri Mahajabin, Lecturer, BRAC University
- Sayrat Salekin, Writer, Researcher, Activist
- Ata Mojlish, Artist
- মোহাইমিন লায়েছ, সংগঠক
- Faiza Fairooz, Artist, Activist. Student, Sculpture, Dhaka University. Designer, Jatra Bangladesh.
- Mikail Khan, South Asia Solidarity Initiative + TRANS/NATIONAL, Organizer, Writer + Communications Worker
- নেয়ামত উল্যাহ মাসুম , filmmaker
- ইলিয়াস জামান, সহ-সাধারণ সম্পাদক বাংলাদেশ ছাত্র ফেডারেশন
- Md. Muntakim Islam, Activist
- Tasfia Tarannum Ridita, TransEnd, Head of social media & Pr, IPPF South Asia region youth network
- Pranto, Student
- tanvir alim, Researcher and activist
- তানভির অনয়, লেখক ও মানবাধিকারকর্মী
- Ifaar Hasan, Human Rights Defender
- Zohan Araz Khan, Student and Activist
- Wahida Rahman Tanha, Engineering graduate, well known private university
- Saaraa Aroni, Artist
- Sajib Sakhawat, Student, University of Bologna
- Syzarn, Student, Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University
- Cheenabadam, TEACHER
- Tasnia Anzum Tisha, Student, Development Studies, University Of Dhaka. Project apprentice, Build Bangladesh
- Alia Kamal, Artist
- Shifat Amreen, Teaching / Lecturer, Brac University
- ANIKA T KARIM, Feminist and environmental activist
- chenoa chowdhury, Bonhishikha
- Syeda Nilima Dola, Filmmaker, Writer, Advertiser. ADA Bangladesh.
- TransEnd
- Lamea Tanjin Tanha, Founder & CEO, TransEnd
- সামিনা লুৎফা, শিক্ষক ও নাট্যকর্মী
- Mark Ratul Sinha, Advertising
- T Hossain, Feminist activist
- Deen Islam, Executive Member, Ulab Kaleidoscope club
- Mehnaz Rahman, Project coordinator, Bonhishikha.
- Siddhartho Shammyo, Quality Assurance Lead at MNC
- Saad Khan, Researcher
- Anupam Kamal Sen, Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland
- Falguny Islam, Student
- Agnidrohee Spondon, Student, Brac University
- Gyenjam, artists-activist collective
- Zarif Faiaz, Journalist
- Fahima Al Farabi, Academic, Writer
- Zareef Faiaz Monjur, Student.
- PS Sajid, Writer, researcher
- Layli Uddin, Lecturer
- Al Mahmud Taha, Student, University of Dhaka
- Sarika Siraj, Architect, Photographer, Writer
- Aarijah Rashid, Architect
- Jaheen Faruque Amin, Writer-Filmmaker
- Dalia Chakma, Researcher
- অরূপ রাহী, সংগীতশিল্পী, গবেষক
- Ohie Abdullah, Highschool graduate,Volunteer, Swayong and TransEnd
- Ayesha Rahman Chowdhury Social Researcher, Paraa (Urban Research)
- Reemon, Visual Journalist
- আনন্দ অন্তঃলীন, আলোকচিত্রী, নৃবিজ্ঞানী
- Anonymous, Consultant in industrial sustainability
- ওর্চি লোহানী, শিল্পী, এক্টিভিস্ট
- Zainab Rahman Chowdhury (momi), Visual and Stick and Poke tattoo Artist
- Vikarun Nessa, Conscious Citizen of Bangladesh
- Krishnachura, Urban Research Assistant, Paraa
- Anonymous, Global Health Professional
- সৃষ্টি সঞ্চারী, শিল্পী
- Orchid Chakma, Photographer
- Joya Sikder, Human rights defender
- Rahat Hossain, Human Rights Defender (মানবাধিকার কর্মী)
- Rudmila Rudaba Islam, Student at BRAC University. IELTS Instructor at Mentors’.
- জয় সাহা, IT professional
- Purnasha Aurora, Student, Brac University
- Anonymous, Meta Marketing Pro, analyst
- Mujibul Anam, Lecturer, Griffith University, Australia
- Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, writer, worker
- Fariha Jannat Mim, Activist, Filmmaker
- Ajmi Rahaman, Post Graduate in Mathematics
- Nahaly Nafisa Khan, Journalist and Researcher
- Mir Rifat Saleheen, Lecturer
- Mishkat Mahiuddin, Student, ISRT, Dhaka University
- Anonymous
- Sarah Ahmed, Public Information Specialist
- Zarif Ahmed, Student, Independent University Bangladesh
- Sarjana Sanam Islam, Architect
- Christina Joyeeta Munshi, Artist
- NRA, Journalist, Citizen;
- Tanjeem Ashhab Arnob, Student, Brac University
- Mayeda Tanha Bidushy, Development Communication Professional
- Antara Islam, Development professional and concerned citizen
- Krishnaa, Student-CUET
- Dina M. Siddiqi, New York University
- Hana Shams Ahmed, PhD Candidate, York University, Canada.
- Nasrin Khandoker , Feminist and Social Anthropologist
- Ratul Al Ahmed, Anthropologist
- Farhana Sultana, Professor
- Samreen F Islam, Artist and Freelancer
- Kabita Chakma, Architect, Researcher, Writer
- Omar Bin Parvez, Artist, Designer
- Monowar Husain Omi, Student, SDS, Brac University
- Mehbuba Mahzabeen Hasan, Visual artist
- Naripokkho
- Gita Das, Naripokkho
- Amita Dey, Women Rights Activist
- Ishrat Jahan Prachy, Human rights activist and lawyer
- Bimurta Bismoy Sanchi, software engineer
- নীলিমা নীলা, প্রফেশনাল
- Anonymous, Development Worker
- Zarin Tasnim Reza (Joyeeta), Fashion Designer, RMG Industry
- Shaiya Binte Mahbub Nisa, Academic teaching Liberal Arts, Brac University
- Sanjida Samiha, Student
- Marzuk Ahsan
- Anonymous, AAB( Development Sector)
- Avishikta Poddar, Student
- Faiza Hossain Maisha, Student
- Nawshaba Ahmed Lecturer, Brac University
- Meheruba Hasin Alif, Student, Computer Science and Engineering, BRAC University
- Atiqur Rahman Priom, Student and documentary film maker, BRAC University
- Anonymous, Student, University of Chittagong
- পল্লব আহমেদ, অ্যাডভার্টাইজার
- Iffat Haque
- Amreeta Chowdhury, Writer, journalist, activist
- Jakia Hossain, Freelance graphic designer
- Rifah Tasnim Arna, Non-profit professional
- Halima Hasin , Teacher
- মিম আরাফাত মানব, প্রভাষক, কম্পিউটার বিজ্ঞান ও প্রকৌশল, ব্র্যাক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
- Aanica Zulfiquar, Anthropologist & Researcher
- Shabnam Nadiya, Writer, Translator
- Ashraful Haq, Advertiser
- Kazi Ehsan Aziz, Software Engineer
- Shyama, Projects for Social Change
- Sarah Nafisa Shahid, Labour activist and writer
- Fokhruz Zaman, EEE Engineer and educator
Feedback
The initial writers of the letter wanted to acknowledge and celebrate important comments that were brought forth after the letter went into circulation.
“Would’ve liked to see a line about curtailing the security, police, surveillance state and specifically limits to policing powers.” – PS Sajid, writer, researcher
“Wish there was more of an emphasis on the general predations of capitalism and how it uses ‘identity politics’ to undermine solidarity across real social differences.” – Dina M. Siddiqi, New York University
“Community engagement with bodies like the police to build trust and care focused security. Places like Sri Lanka have done similar things before in their own communities, so we can build on those learnings.” – T Hossain, Feminist activist
“Important institutions such as Judiciary, Police, Bangladesh Bank should be given full autonomy and independence and kept out of [state] bureaucracy. ” – Anonymous
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 