THE VOICES OF MEN

Millions of men and women work and live in Dhaka. Like many cosmopolitan cities of the world, ensuring a friendly environment for female city dwellers and workers has been a challenge for the city's authority. Already, we have seen several steps taken to make the city female-friendly an example being special bus service for women. But these facilities are few, compared to the existing problems they face. These cannot be overcome without changing the mindset of their male counterparts. On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Star explores what men, in this mechanised city, think of women's rights.

“In Dhaka women are very smart and intelligent. But I think men are cleverer than women.”
Md Farhad HOossain
A tea stall owner

“Women are equal but different. In Surah Nisa, Allah has ensured their rights and honour. We men must respect their rights.”
Md Hafizuddin
A student of Govt Alia Madrassa

“In my profession we treat men and women equally by their work not by their gender identity. I believe women have the right to be treated equally as human beings in all walks of life.”
Shubro Das
Architect

“I have been pulling a rickshaw in Dhaka for forty years. I treat my female passengers as I do my own mother and daughters.”
Abdul Malek
Rickshaw puller

“In my village I have seen parents treating their daughters as inferiors. In some cases it has happened in my family as well. As I am now an earning member, I always try to take extra care of my younger sister. I think women need more support than men in our society.”
Noushad Hossain
Restaurant worker

“I don't think women are less capable than men on any capacity. Discrimination between men and women is manmade. There are physiological differences but that actually makes women more beautiful.”  
Tabriz Zubayer Sarup
Medical student

“I am a proud father of a one-year-old daughter. She is very intelligent. I think if I can give her a proper education she will do far better than any man in Bangladesh.”
Md Zakir Hussain
Construction worker