Dr. Pamelia Khaled:
We observe painfully the state-maintained patriarchy system, raid on women, and Bangladesh’s random current drug control pattern. A traditional view is that a girl or a wife should stay at home, but a man can do whatever he wants, including abusing drugs and keeping relationships with multiple women outside of the home. When traditions become Doxas (social norms), then it becomes harmful for women. Wondering, who created these actresses or models who are involved with drug and women abusing business? Isn’t it that the Bangladesh media, police, and RAB are busy with an issue that is less significant than others? They are not paying attention to those critical social issues that are vital to upholding the social tapestries in the country and abroad.
If we question which institutions are responsible for building good citizens, for me, the first state, then family (family is not the first anymore, because a family has its own ideology that can be harmful to the children), and then school. Good citizenship building is cooperative work. Bangladesh is a big example of how the public, media, and society can act if a state does not fulfill all those conditions, follow guidelines, and guide people.
It is not about one particular girl or a few hundred girls (or millions) engaged in the brothel business across the country. The mafias, which control a huge chain, are involved in the drugs business, so the media should focus on that aspect to juxtapose the stories of the drug world. Bangladesh media, police, and RAB are busy with issues with less significant people like an actress or a few models. They are not paying attention to those drug mafias and the criminals who encourage and push women into this situation. Moreover, they have a lack of interest in the other critical social issues that need to be addressed on an emergency basis.
Why was justice not done for Munia, Basundhara man, Anvir, and other cases? The public is judgmental and never asks questions and inquires about the events. If it is about women’s issues, people bring out the modesty facts and their lifestyles to impose brand new social barriers on them. People do not think how media propaganda, society, and the one-eyed corrupted justice system use women for their own benefits and leave women for the unknown.
The most important thing is, this is not the way to catch underworld dogs of mafias, especially godfathers of the Drugs world. Catching a few women (no significant men yet) is just a wishy-washy scene of making the order of the country’s drug business situation. Law enforcement officers and administration know the national and international secrets of how the drug world works. The government should be careful and punish those engaged in the drug business. If the models are involved in crimes, they will be responsible for their acts, for sure. What about those men with many relationships except wives and keeping alcohol drugs at home to serve their guests? Why is a single man not got arrested yet?
However, Pori Moni and other models should not be harassed unnecessarily in the name of drug control operations. Knowing the fact, I fancy everyone should get a justice who is involved in abusing women and the drug business.
Justice is blind! Therefore, justice should be impartial. Men should not be treated differently from women. If men are involved in crimes, they should be charged equally—victim-blaming culture, name-calling of women, and their harassment jeopardizing the Bangladesh justice system.
Dr. Pamelia Khaled, “Gender and Women Development,” York University, and “Curriculum and Pedagogy on Peace and Conflict Resolution through Science,” Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) University of Toronto