Inheritance Law: Why
should Bangladeshis be alarmed?
Sorowar
Just opening the
front page of the newspapers these days, we are skeptically staring
at the angry faces of “so called religious fundamentalists or
extremists” who are protesting against a few clauses of recently
approved National Women Development policy. Columnists, journalists
and so called experts on the talk-shows are voicing their views
based on their different world-views or ideologies. It is becoming a
norm that educated people in the higher society (such as Sushil
somaj, which is a tiny fraction of the society) see the religious
outlook or attitude as backward. Obvious sign of unease is observed
whenever they encounter any religiously-dressed people (including
close relatives, as father or brother!) in the office or work arena.
All the left leaning journalists/columnists are trying to represent
the inheritance issue as a “mere political issue”. They are
blaming the marginalized Islamic parties for taking advantages of
the issue in the name of religion and keep saying that majority of
the people agree with their views. This might be true, if they
consider the majority of the like-minded people who are having the
same ideology!
Recent wave of
violent protest erupted following the statement of a female advisor
of CTG. She labeled those as religious fundamentalists who are
against the women policy regarding inheritance issue and will take
action who do protest. In response to this audacious comment,
Quranic Law defense committee was planning to submit a memorandum to
chief advisor for her resignation.
Let’s look at
the National Women Development Policy. AL govt. made the first draft
of National Women Development policy in 1997. The next govt. BNP
edited the policy in 2004. Later, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad and
Samajik Pritirod committee was demanding to CTG govt. to
re-establish the previous policy which was approved by AL govt.
Recently, the chief of CTG addressed in a talk during World Women
Day (March 8, 2008) that the CTG govt. is taking preparation to make
new laws based the approved Women policy where inheritance issue
will also be included. He also stressed that new laws will be
implemented through Ordinance. After the peaceful protest, CTG govt.
assured that it does not have mentality to implement any laws which
go against Quran and Hadith. But Quranic Law defending committee was
still demanding to remove that part of the policy which goes against
Quranic law. A barrage of criticism was hurled by so-called
progressive columnists, civil society toward CTG due to supposedly
bow down to so-called Islamists. They are trying to divide the
people by intellectually brainwashing that mullahs are muddying
without knowing anything about the policy. Interestingly, on the
contrary, they are voicing their support about the inheritance issue
of women policy!
I think, no body
including so called Islamists against the overall women policy. By
this time CTG govt. even did not take any initiative to correct the
policy. Moreover, recent comment of advisor, Rashida K Chawdury has
fired up the issue again. It is logical to believe that her comment
may reflect the ultimate attitude of CTG about the inheritance
issue. Any form of violence is condemnable. Surprisingly enough,
those same journalists/columnists depicted the violent incident
(cost about 150 crore taka) in Dhaka University as a” spontaneous
reaction” towards CTG govt!
Is it a
political issue?
Although some
political parties such as Jamaat is taking advantage from this issue
in order to come out from pressure cooker. Whatever political
parties involved, this is the very personal issue of every Muslim in
Bangladesh. It is the duty of every Muslim to be alarmed.
As Muslim, everyone must ask “why has this
issue of inheritance been raised up in the first place??”
Is it a conspiracy to vitiate the already volatile situation in the
country due to mismanagement of CTG govt? By implementing this law,
all Muslim will be affected and will shake up the very foundation of
the society which will lead to chaos. Whatever secularists or
columnist with atheistic view tell us, after all majority of the
people in Bangladesh obey Quranic Laws. Jamaat does not represent
Islam or Muslim. It is illogical or unethical to label the issue as
“political” which is supported by Jamaat. For instance, if Jamaat
or Islamists participate in the fighting against a real cause, such
as, occupation of our country, it won’t be patriotic to say that
this is a political issue. Is it wise to take out from
responsibility just because of Jamaat? Some of columnists/people
from civil society are citing the issue of Iyub Khan who tried to
implement a new law regarding inheritance and asking the Islamists
“why did you not protest then?” As we know Iyub Khan was disgraced.
Is it argumentative to say that Iyub khan did this, so CTG will do
that? Is CTG autocratic Govt?? CTG has promised to have a free and
fair democratic election. CTG does not represent the people. We
smell something different and curious to know, “why does CTG want to
take this daring step through ordinance without consulting experts
(religious scholars)?” It must listen to the heart of the country
(the general people) before taking crucial decision.
Lesson from recent past:
Nothing good comes out through violent protest. Gaining something
through violence is the ideology of materialists whose basis is “the
survival of the fittest”. In today’s atheistic or Darwinistic world,
religious ideology is struggling against the tide. The religious
scholars must take proactive and pragmatic ways in order to defeat
the atheistic ideology. Otherwise, legitimate issue will be snatched
away by media mogul through their cunning manipulation of society’s
mindset.
We must take lessons from the recent past. If somehow or some ways a
law enacted, it would be very difficult to reverse that law and even
the democracy is impotent in this case. Turkey is a Muslim nation
(99% muslim) which had ruled the world for seven hundred years where
faith was the guidance. But reality is that Kamal Ataturk had banned
the headscarf in the governmental building, school, college,
university. Majority of the people (in general, 66% women wear
headscarf) has been struggling for 84 years to lift that draconian
law. About one million women have been denied from fundamental
rights such as university education due to headscarf since 1980, let
alone getting govt. job, whereas the prostitution is legal by the
name of freedom of choice. Even people on the dying bed are not
escaped from that vicious law. In 2002, a 72 year old woman named
Ercan collapsed to death in front of doctors of Istanbul University
medical hospital who refused to treat her because her medical card
shows wearing hijab! Hospital doctors were forced to turn the lady
away, despite her grave condition, as they feared repercussions from
the administration if they treated her.
Recently, most popular AK party is fighting for its own survival
which was trying to lift the ban. The AK party has been charged with
the violation of secularism principle due to headscarf issue. It is
quite clear that end result will be party closure by secularists’
constitutional court! So democracy is worthless here.
Even worse scenario exists in an Arab country, Tunisia, where police
is being appointed to monitor the scarf wearing women in the street
in the name of applying secularism! You may see the report by
Amnesty International :(http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/tunisia-human-rights-briefing-20th-anniversary-president-ben-alis-rule).
There is a very strong report that a woman wearing headscarf had
been raped by police in the public to scare those who were wearing
headscarf!
We should take heed every steps of the policy makers who are tiny in
fraction but having immense power to impose their ideological views
on others. Stark reality is that most of the time general people do
realize which is already late. In fact, general people have to pay
the price for the long-term struggle to get their freedom back.
