‘Women are coming and the number increasing but they can’t survive in journalism. Ageism, sexism, wage gap and patriarchal newsroom are responsible. The majority of high profile journalists and editors remain male. Women are still a minority group in Journalism.’—told by Leading figures of the women’s rights groups in Bangladesh.
The exhibition was held on 19 March 2022 titled ‘Women Journalism in Bangladesh: History and Experience’ at Drik Gallery at Panthapath in the capital. Drik Picture Library is organised and dedicated to martyred journalist Selina Parveen. The next day 20 March drik arranged a conference of women Journalists comes from different districts of Bangladesh.
Freedom fighter, Journalist and President of Women Journalists’ Center Nasimun Ara Haque Minu was the chief speaker of this women journalists’ conference. She urged women to carry on journalism with courage.
In three separate panels, journalists from different districts shared their experiences of labour rights violations, patriarchal practices in the newsroom, and harassment through repressive laws.
A senior journalist from Sylhet, Monika Islam said, women journalists cannot make enough progress professionally due to maternal leave and lack of children’s daycare facilities in the media institutions.
Monika Islam said, women journalists cannot make enough progress professionally due to maternal leave and lack of children’s daycare facilities in the media institutions.
Journalist Shapla Khandaker Shoma from Bogura said, women are often ideologically attacked owing to an uncritical desire to sell news and patriarchal news editing policy and practices. A general guideline is necessary to avoid such practices of news making. Journalist S A Kakon from Moulavibazaar said press clubs and other journalists’ associations in the districts of Bangladesh have essentially turned into men’s clubs. Women journalists cannot participate in organizational activities fearing sexual harassment. It is extremely difficult for women to become a member of the press club.
Nasimun Ara Haque Minu said, ‘There is no such thing as women journalists. We are all journalists. Journalism is always challenging. Such a challenging profession would always include incidents of attacks, legal troubles, and sexual harassment. We have to fearlessly fight these issues to create a space of our own.’ During her speech, she pressed 13 demands in light of a ruling by the Hight Court regarding forming investigation committees in the media house and ensuring maternal leave as well as security. ‘These demands have been sent to the Ministry of Information. We’re going to send these demands to every media house in the country. We’ll take action if houses don’t take enough initiatives to meet these demands.’ she added.
Senior journalist Niazi Manna said, women, have to make their presence felt everywhere. Women journalists need to participate in organizations like Press Clubs, Dhaka Journalists’ Union, and Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. If women can collectively move forward, voices for the rights of women journalists can be strengthened.
Woman Affairs Secretary of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Taposhi Rabeya Ankhi said, ‘Sometimes it is women themselves who stand in the way of women’s progress. This is the reason male colleagues can gather the courage to harass women. I believe in every journalists’ association women need to be in the top positions. If necessary, many women can fight for a single post but women need to take up positions. If we can work together, women can take up higher roles in the media houses of our country.’
Women working in different organizations also shared their experiences of discrimination during the event. Their discussion focused on how women journalists are braving their way in the workplace and continuing their work in journalism.
Saydia Gulrukh said, ‘Independent and determined women are frowned upon by the society and state. They are ridiculed and feared. Enduring the ridicules many known and unknown sisters like Nurjahan Begum and Selina Parveen have paved the way for women journalists in the country. They planted the dream of becoming writers and journalists in us. Their courage has transcended generations. Now women are making news, collecting advertisements, and taking photographs fighting against the newsroom and even their own families. Their character is questioned even at the tiniest of faults. If any news goes against any powerful individual or group, surviving in the industry becomes almost impossible. From this conference, we’ve come to realize that although this fight is difficult, it is not impossible to fight our way in this profession.
In October 2021, Drik launched a countrywide project on “Journalism in Bangladesh: Experiences of Women Journalists” to gather insight into the struggles and lives of women journalists of Bangladesh. As part of the research, starting from Dhaka, Drik arranged several discussions with women journalists in all the divisions of the country, listened to their everyday experiences and stories of struggle along with professional achievements.
On behalf of Drik, photographer Shahidul Alam, anthropologist and writer Rahnuma Ahmed, and journalist Saydia Gulrukh were present at the conference.
