A sharp debate has erupted in Bangladesh over the attire of several women members of parliament after a row during the recent budget session. The controversy began when Comilla-6 MP Monirul Haq Chowdhury criticized a group of niqab-wearing women MPs in the chamber, saying they were intelligent but that he “could not tell who is who.” His remarks have provoked strong reactions both inside and outside parliament.
The dispute widened when exiled and often-controversial writer Taslima Nasrin shared a photograph of the parliamentary scene on her social media account and posted an outspoken response. She wrote that “parliament is not a place to hide one’s face,” arguing that elected representatives should be visibly present before the people they serve. In her view, covering the face while representing citizens is fundamentally at odds with democratic accountability.
Nasrin went on to condemn the ideology behind concealing women’s faces. She said the image of burqa-clad women MPs is not a symbol of female freedom but a painful picture of erasure that renders women invisible and identity-less. She lamented that the sight did not convey an image of educated women, elected representatives, or active citizens, but rather reflected a mindset that treats a woman’s face as a problem.
Pointing to the long struggle for women’s rights, Nasrin questioned whether women are truly free if they must hide their faces even in high offices such as the national legislature. She argued that the parliament should be a place for the display of intellect, argument and leadership, and that “disembodied” representation undermines those principles.
Monirul Chowdhury’s initial comment and Nasrin’s subsequent posts have together fueled a broader conversation about visibility, representation and gender in Bangladesh’s public life, prompting debate across political and social circles.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/the-ideology-that-wants-to-cover-womens-faces-taslima-nasreens-explosive-comments-on-wearing-burqas-in-parliament/
Category: দেশ,বাংলাদেশ,শীর্ষ সংবাদ
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Publish Date: 2026-06-22 21:39:00
