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Risks to gender-based diversity intensified post Aug 5: Iftekharuzzaman

The 16 days of activism against gender-based Violence aims to put sustained efforts into uprooting gender inequality and gender bias from society.
VISUAL: KAZI TAHSIN AGAZ APURBO

Risks to gender-based diversity in the country have increased since August 5, said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, at an event today.

"Risks to gender-based diversity were present before August 5. However, with profound embarrassment and sorrow, I must admit that these risks have intensified since then. It is because those who consider themselves victorious following the July-August movements now appear to believe they hold power. Yet, their actions demonstrate a lack of commitment to the core principles of anti-discrimination movements.

"Instead, they are pushing agendas rooted in discriminatory indoctrination and conceptualisation, which is antithetical to the spirit of equality and inclusivity. This is unfortunate," he said while speaking at a citizen conference titled "People-Centric Reform for Good Governance: Aspirations of Disadvantaged Communities."

The Citizen Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, organised the event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Agargaon, Dhaka.

He expressed his embarrassment at the government's failure to ensure the representation of women and minority communities in the reform commissions, including the ACC Reform Commission.

"We claim to oppose authoritarianism, but the practice of authoritarianism persists. Even today, I am told the term 'Adivasi' [indigenous] cannot be used. Who has imposed this restriction? Investigate, and you will know," he said.

The TIB chief said. "Despite discussions on diversity and disadvantaged communities, the current administration has failed to establish a Diversity Commission or a Minority Commission. These are essential reforms that we must demand."

Terming the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs a "misnomer," Iftekharuzzaman said: "This ministry not only marginalises indigenous communities in the plains but has also become a tool to undermine the rights of hill-tract communities. We do not need this ministry. Instead, we need a diversity ministry with a specific mandate to safeguard the rights of all communities, including indigenous peoples. This should be our collective demand."

Iftekharuzzaman, who also leads the ACC Reform Commission, said an education commission has not been established, despite education being a key area of inequality.

"The government formed a curriculum review committee, which was later disbanded under pressure from a certain group because one of the members advocated for gender-based diversity rights. He led the anti-discrimination movement. It was shameful that the interim government disbanded the committee under pressure. No one protested. Only TIB raised its voice, for which we were threatened," he said.

Addressing the perception of the interim government as unelected, he clarified: "The interim government has a mandate derived from the people. It was established under the doctrine of necessity, and its legitimacy is unparalleled. Therefore, we must hold it accountable for upholding the core principles of the anti-discrimination movement and defeating all forces of inequality."

Iftekharuzzaman identified corruption and the concentration of power as the primary drivers of authoritarianism in the country.

"Ordinary people are not inherently corrupt. They are forced into corruption by the government, political elites, and bureaucratic structures. People are shown that without resorting to corruption, they will be deprived of services and face systemic discrimination. Meanwhile, those responsible for these injustices escape accountability," he said.

He called for a cultural shift to combat corruption and authoritarianism, emphasising that legal measures alone are insufficient without public resistance.

"There was a time when corrupt individuals were despised. Now, they are invited as chief guests at events and appointed as heads of religious institutions. This culture must end, and it is the youth and the general populace who can bring about this change."

Comments

Risks to gender-based diversity intensified post Aug 5: Iftekharuzzaman

The 16 days of activism against gender-based Violence aims to put sustained efforts into uprooting gender inequality and gender bias from society.
VISUAL: KAZI TAHSIN AGAZ APURBO

Risks to gender-based diversity in the country have increased since August 5, said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, at an event today.

"Risks to gender-based diversity were present before August 5. However, with profound embarrassment and sorrow, I must admit that these risks have intensified since then. It is because those who consider themselves victorious following the July-August movements now appear to believe they hold power. Yet, their actions demonstrate a lack of commitment to the core principles of anti-discrimination movements.

"Instead, they are pushing agendas rooted in discriminatory indoctrination and conceptualisation, which is antithetical to the spirit of equality and inclusivity. This is unfortunate," he said while speaking at a citizen conference titled "People-Centric Reform for Good Governance: Aspirations of Disadvantaged Communities."

The Citizen Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, organised the event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Agargaon, Dhaka.

He expressed his embarrassment at the government's failure to ensure the representation of women and minority communities in the reform commissions, including the ACC Reform Commission.

"We claim to oppose authoritarianism, but the practice of authoritarianism persists. Even today, I am told the term 'Adivasi' [indigenous] cannot be used. Who has imposed this restriction? Investigate, and you will know," he said.

The TIB chief said. "Despite discussions on diversity and disadvantaged communities, the current administration has failed to establish a Diversity Commission or a Minority Commission. These are essential reforms that we must demand."

Terming the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs a "misnomer," Iftekharuzzaman said: "This ministry not only marginalises indigenous communities in the plains but has also become a tool to undermine the rights of hill-tract communities. We do not need this ministry. Instead, we need a diversity ministry with a specific mandate to safeguard the rights of all communities, including indigenous peoples. This should be our collective demand."

Iftekharuzzaman, who also leads the ACC Reform Commission, said an education commission has not been established, despite education being a key area of inequality.

"The government formed a curriculum review committee, which was later disbanded under pressure from a certain group because one of the members advocated for gender-based diversity rights. He led the anti-discrimination movement. It was shameful that the interim government disbanded the committee under pressure. No one protested. Only TIB raised its voice, for which we were threatened," he said.

Addressing the perception of the interim government as unelected, he clarified: "The interim government has a mandate derived from the people. It was established under the doctrine of necessity, and its legitimacy is unparalleled. Therefore, we must hold it accountable for upholding the core principles of the anti-discrimination movement and defeating all forces of inequality."

Iftekharuzzaman identified corruption and the concentration of power as the primary drivers of authoritarianism in the country.

"Ordinary people are not inherently corrupt. They are forced into corruption by the government, political elites, and bureaucratic structures. People are shown that without resorting to corruption, they will be deprived of services and face systemic discrimination. Meanwhile, those responsible for these injustices escape accountability," he said.

He called for a cultural shift to combat corruption and authoritarianism, emphasising that legal measures alone are insufficient without public resistance.

"There was a time when corrupt individuals were despised. Now, they are invited as chief guests at events and appointed as heads of religious institutions. This culture must end, and it is the youth and the general populace who can bring about this change."

Comments

সংস্কার ও নির্বাচন প্রক্রিয়া নিয়ে চলতি মাসেই ঘোষণার ইঙ্গিত প্রধান উপদেষ্টার

জাতীয় নির্বাচনের আগে প্রয়োজনীয় সংস্কারের গুরুত্ব পুনর্ব্যক্ত করে প্রধান উপদেষ্টা ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস চলতি মাসের শেষের দিকে সংস্কার ও নির্বাচন প্রক্রিয়া সম্পর্কে একটি ঘোষণার ইঙ্গিত দিয়েছেন।

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