The scenario of women development in subcontinent is not in satisfactory level at all. When the women in developed countries are playing vital role in world’s economy and developing the economic condition of their selves and their family through the success in workplace, then the scenario of subcontinent is just opposite. To compare with India, Nepal , Srilanka and Maldeep, the women of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afgan are more backward. The reasons behind it may be Islamic religion. Most of Muslim women are being blocked in kitchen due to hijab custom. Whereas in early period of Islamic era women are seen participating in trades, agriculture and with other outside works when the prophet Mohammad was alive. Even women at that time would participate in war both directly and indirectly.

I can’t say exactly when and how the women had been confined in household chores but it’s continuation in our country are remarkably exist yet.
For the kind information to the readers I would like to inform that the various measurement of women development, throughout the survey by others organizations including the UN, though Bangladesh is advance in some areas than other Asian countries, the direct involvement of Muslim women in countries economic development is still less. So I am here trying to portray the reasons and negativity of unwillingness of “Women’s involving in Economic Development” rather than “Women Development”.

Whatever women development has been attained in Bangladesh is mostly responsible only to other religion’s women, women from comparatively less Islamic ruled Muslim family and by the strong will of higher educated women. Still now the environment of workplace is not friendly for women. One of the most reasons for the less development of Muslim woman is so called Hijab custom. Hijab not only covers the appearance of Muslim ladies. In real terms it restricts the Muslim woman from the light of science and knowledge. Hijab is not mere a piece of cloth, it is a borderline imposed by the Muslim male upon female. Muslim women are such a stupid that they tolerate this insult without any complain. They don’t think for a single time that the jealous Muslim fundamentalists have made them their slave .They afraid of women’s rival that’s why they try to bind women fully inside house. If the women can come out from hijab then women development would increase, one the other hand the lostur Muslim fundamentalists might learn a good lesson. Muslim fundamentalists consider women nothing but the sexual partner only. They don’t know how to honor women.
The condition of middle class women is worse. I came to know by the in-depth interview with the village woman participating in seminar and workshop that Muslim woman are discouraged from their family. In this case religious image is more responsible than male dominated view in village family. Many of educated Muslim women pass their lives only in the middle of household chores after their marriage, whereas she might be a scientist or good teacher or a famous accountant. It seems that giving birth children, looking after them and household chores are their fate after marriage. Kitchen is their only life and the whole world is unknown to them. Blindness in religion is causing women’s backwardness rather than religion. Lives of Muslim women are confined by the borderline imposed by Muslim fundamentalists.
Though “Women’s Education Movement” of Begum Rokeya, the former leader of “Muslim women rival” brought a social change but it is not the real freedom of Muslim women. In this modern age, we should create place for women in country’s development activities. We have to decide and plan not as ‘religious blindness’ rather than in accordance with life and reality. Women are going backward. Lives of Muslim women are being confined within the circle drawn by Muslim male.
One statistic shows that 64% male in Bangladesh don't think that women should work outside the home.
Though “Women’s Education Movement” of Begum Rokeya, the former leader of “Muslim women rival” brought a social change but it is not the real freedom of Muslim women. In this modern age, we should create place for women in country’s development activities. We have to decide and plan not as ‘religious blindness’ rather than in accordance with life and reality. In history, a number of women played vital role to change the world. We have to make the way of participation easy for the Muslim women of Bangladesh ignoring the religious bindings. We have to create chance for the women for self-expression with self-respect. As 80 percent family in Bangladesh is Muslim, so if we can add this huge number of Muslim women in economic activities then Bangladesh must be developed is my belief.



Salim Mahmud