Dear Alochoks:
It seems that my last letter about alleged men's superiority has stirred much controversy. Well it seems it failed to initiate a healthy intellectual discussion on the matter and that proves many of the points which I will now decipher.
I do not know if anyone of you remeber what Mr. Jack Straw - the British Home Minister said about Muslim women's full veil. Do you?
He required and expressed his utter discomfort about Islamic (although Islam does not require wearing of full veil) veil and when he was challenged about certain quarters - the British media embarked on unnecessary lengthy discussions on the matter and Mr. Straw was being praised not for his alleged comment as per se, rather he was being congratulated for bringing the issue no matter what.
Please follow the links:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:Ge62kkBX-wwJ:www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php%3Farticle_id%3D9881+Jack+Straw%27s+comment%27s+about+Muslim+veil+opened+a+discussion&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk
I am also happy that at least it made me clearer about certain misconceptions about a few of the Alochoks about me who are trying to brand me as a medieval dogmatic Jamaati even though I have been trying to establish that I am a fundamentalist Muslim (not fanatic) and I hate Jamaat E Islami for their stand in Liberation war times.
I am surprised why no one raised a single word that how can I be a Muslim and hold my own personal view when I said in my previous letters that I do not try to do anything or hold any opinion of my own unless supported by Holy Quran and Sunna. Quran says in Sura Maida Ayat 11:
O ye who believe! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you when certain men formed the design to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you: so fear Allah. And on Allah let believers put (all) their trust.
Islam does not support the view that men are superior to women or women are superior to men and I can refer many ayats in that respect to you all. But Islam rather says that men have one step more in responsibility in taking care of the women (Sura Nisa). I am surprised no one pointed to that. The arguments which I had put forward before were the views held by extremist and flawed male chauvists in response to utter blind feminists. I do not support any of those myself.
I believe that women and men are different sexes of the same species and are equal in humanity and it will utter stupidity to make them compete in the same field and compare their supremacy and to conclude therefrom. It is true that their physical structure are different and their ordained tasks in this world are naturally different in many fields. For example, men are better in physical jobs but women are better in dealing with multiple works at the same time and that is scientifically proved. It is true that men are better in concentrating on a single thing at a given time and that's why there are more philosophers amongst men and on the other hand females are poised to do better in GCSCs and other academic multi-curriculumn engagements.
I believe that there are reasons for Allah making two sexes and he could have created us even from a single sex and we have examples of that in Quran and in science. There are insects where there are no males. Did anybody know that? I do not support Engles 'Origin of the Family' and I do not support the view expressed by Richard Dawkin in his 'God Delusion'.
I am a lawyer and have been trained to be effectively corrective as a journalist. Readers are requested to be cautious when they read something unbelievable from soomeone who does not seem to hold that view. It is called the art of Cross Examination.
Mere angry outbursts are the works of the devil and it is no use making Salman Rushdie a hero to the west by shouting in the streets - the best response is an intellectual bashing in which I am engaged around the globe but I did not write to belittle the honoured readers but to tread carefully. By the way, I am happy that again - the women folks did not step into the arguments even though it concerned them and it is true that our women folks in Bangladesh need to work hard towards building their own ldestiny with wisdom.
Now you understand why I intentionally withheld my regular title as a Human Rights Advocate in my last letter.
I am not a self-styled Human Rights Activist. I have been working in the field relentlessly for many years and on women's rights as well.
Please follow the link for an example:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3582322.stm
I hope this clarifies many issues.
Sincerely,
Mufassil Islam
Human Rights Advocate
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
From: mashuque@pacbell.net
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:32:02 -0700
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Will of the Ulema rules-- a public hoodwink on Women's Reserved Seats
Oow! I am really surprised and saddened to see such sexists views and remarks coming from a Human Rights Advocate. I do wonder whether we are really in the 21st century or some how going backwards to the 16th or so.
- mashuque----- Original Message ----
From: mufassil islam <mufassili@hotmail.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:10:32 AM
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Will of the Ulema rules-- a public hoodwink on Women's Reserved Seats
It is true that our women are neglected but we also do not have yet many enlightened women folks yet. Whatever so called women politicians or leaders we have - almost all are fanatically feminists. Two leaders in the parliament - women - look what a mess they created. It is nothing to do with gender - yet we have to wait for improving the long neglected other sex. I don't know whether you all will agree with me - it is my personal view - not supported by Quran or any other dogma - but through histiry it has been proved - Men are more intelligent and wiser. We have been idiots as well and most corrupt as well - and most evil as well. But it is Men - who changed the world. I don't understand who can support logically the view that men and women are equal. How? Produce your evidence. Results in GCSC? Laugh - the system is erred. What about Chess playing ranks? Sports? Science? Moral philosophies? If these were the results of domantion by women since eternity - then why women failed to find a way to dominate men? We are not being dominated by tigers. Are we? The truth is - the feminists want female domination. Ask the men of the west how they suffer for irrational family laws where fathers are aliens and men are being abused with the fear of making them lose their children. What I believe and I am straight forward about it - men and women are equal in their humanity and in the senses of souls but - physically - and brainwise - Men are superior - far superior. If men wanted and if men were not rationally equipped - women would have still ben in sackles as breeding species and that would have affected men as well. I don't know how many of you read Engles Origin of Family thourgh Marxist view - but I don't find the logic in deeming that monogamous marriages are signs of male domination. What is the other choice? Let women have hundreds of male partners? Who would suffer more? Sorry but women lack all superior psychological and philosophical senses. No wonder we have not yet seen a single woman philosopher in wo! rld hist ory or leadeing facts. So if anyone want their rights - seats in the parliament - let them achieve it.
Mufassil Islam
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
From: rkhundkar@earthlink .net
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 08:38:48 -0700
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Will of the Ulema rules-- a public hoodwink on Women's Reserved Seats
Somehow I was not surprised. All too predictable!
Robin Khundkar
-----Original Message-----
From: Farida Majid
Sent: May 11, 2008 1:27 PM
To: Afrozanari Shibly
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Will of the Ulema rules-- a public hoodwink on Women's Reserved Seats
In a surprise move the caretaker government has retreated from its earlier pledge of reserving 40 percent seats for women at all tiers of the local government system for three consecutive terms.
It is widely believed that the government has buckled in the wake of violent protests by hardliner Islamist groups against the National Women's Development Policy 2008.
The pledge however was made to effectively empower women at all levels of the local government system.
On March 23, the council of advisers approved in principle two ordinances regarding formations and functions of city corporations and municipalities with the provision for reserving 40 percent seats exclusively for women.
The government also had a plan to incorporate the same provision in other upcoming laws regarding formations and functions of union, upazila and zila parishads, the sources added.
But an Ulema Committee formed by the government to revi! ew the women's development policy, on April 17 in its recommendations to the government, strongly opposed the policy and asked the government to scrap the provision for increasing the number of reserved seats for women in the local government system, representatives to which would be elected through direct elections according to the earlier proposal.
Following the recommendations of the ulemas, the council of advisers at a special meeting on April 24 finalised the two ordinances regarding city corporations and municipalities scrapping the provision for reserving 40 percent seats for women.
The finalised ordinances however propose to continue the current provision for reserving one-third seats for women in city corporations and municipalities, which is expected to be promulgated as a law by the president soon, handing over a whopping victory to the Islamist hardliners in the country.
According to the existing provision, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has! 90 wards headed by as many commissioners. In addition, ! there ar e prov isions for 30 women commissioners. Each woman commissioner is in charge of three wards. So in reality each ward has two commissioners -- one generally elected commissioner and the other a woman commissioner who is also elected by voters of three wards. This system leads to conflicts in sharing responsibilities as generally elected commissioners are often found to be non-cooperating with the specially elected women commissioners. Similar power sharing systems exist for other city corporations, municipalities and union parishads.
But the proposed law suggested 40 percent of the total 90 wards of DCC be reserved for women. So, there would be no dual commissionership in any ward. Such reserved seats for women were supposed to be in place for three terms totalling in 15 years. After that the government was to make a fresh decision on whether the reserved women's seats would exist or not.
Defending the government's back flip, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal on April 27 ! claimed to the media that the provision for reserving 40 percent seats for women had to be scrapped, since it would come into conflict with a court verdict.
A government formed expert committee on strengthening local government institutions led by incumbent Health Adviser MM Shawkat Ali, which came up with the original proposal, however did so after reviewing the High Court verdict.
The committee found nothing wrong in reserving 40 percent seats for women for the next 15 years, instead it argued that the constitution does not discourage making special provisions for women's development.
Referring to the High Court judgement on a writ filed by some women ward commissioners elected to reserved seats in Khulna City Corporation, the LGRD adviser said the provision for reserving seats for women should not be a permanent system.
The petitioners filed the writ to avoid being marginalised in the name of being assigned with 'special duties'.
In ! fact according to the High Court's verdict, represe! ntatives elected to reserved seats for women cannot be officially assigned with 'special duties' in local governments and they must be treated as equals to other elected representatives.
The High Court verdict actually said nothing about the percentage of seats to be reserved for women.
DRFAT LAW FOR ZILA, UPAZILA & UNION PARISHADS
Meanwhile, in line with the government's latest reversal of decisions, the LGRD ministry already drafted a law regarding formations, elections and functions of union, upazila and zila parishads without keeping the provision for reserving 40 percent seats for women, who would be elected through direct votes, sources in the ministry said.
The draft ordinance proposes to continue the current provision for reserving three seats for women in each union parishad, having jurisdiction over nine general wards, a source said.
Meaning, each elected woman to reserved seats in a union parishad will have to share her authority with th! ree other elected members, running the risk of being marginalised.
At upazila and zila parishad levels, instead of reserving 40 percent seats for women, the new draft law proposes to keep one-third of total posts reserved for women, who will be elected through indirect votes.
Women, who are already elected to reserved seats at lower tiers of the local government system will only be able to contest in elections to upazila and zila parishads, and an electoral college of already elected women to reserved seats at lower tiers will elect from among themselves the representatives to reserved seats for women in upazila and zila parishads, says the draft law.
The LGRD ministry draft however proposes to create a post of a vice-chairman in each upazila and zila parishads, which will be reserved for women elected through direct votes.
Currently there are around 14,500 women representatives elected to reserved seats in over 4,000 union parishads, 6 city c! orporations, and the municipalities.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR -->
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