Bangladesh: Information on a women's development group called Nari Pakkho in Dhaka, including when it was formed, what its activities include, whether it has well-known patrons, and whether its members have had problems with authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD23825.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Information on a women's development group called Nari Pakkho in Dhaka, including when it was formed, what its activities include, whether it has well-known patrons, and whether its members have had problems with authorities, 1 May 1996, BGD23825.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9122.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In the course of conducting research for this Information Request, the DIRB encountered several variations of the spelling of Nari Pakkho, including Naripakkho, Naripokkho, and Naripoko. The name is variously translated as meaning "Pro-woman", "For Women" or "On the Side of Women" (UFSI Reports 1987, 9; Christian Science Monitor 2 June 1988; UPI 23 Aug. 1995).
According to a United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) report from 8 April 1993,
Naripakkho was formed in 1973 and have more than 200 professional and career women as members. This is a feminist group mainly working for creating awareness on legal rights, dowry problems and other gender issues through organizing workshops, seminars etc. Naripakkho also provides assistance to other agencies on organizing training workshops on women and gender issues (21).
However, a 1987 article in UFSI Reports, a publication produced by Universities Field Staff International, Inc., of Indianapolis, states that "Nari Pokkho" was established in 1983, and describes the group as
radical educated professionals (mostly working with development organizations). It is committed to the feminist philosophy and to democratic principles.... Through weekly meetings and intensive monthly workshops, Nari Pokkho follows a format of dialogue and contemplation in the process of consciousness-raising among women. Nari Pokkho aspires to create public awareness of sexism in society and to organize women as a pressure group on policy issues. In April [1987], it very successfully organized a signature campaign, called a public meeting, and led a march to protest the Ershad regime's attempts to "Islamicize" the country by changing the existing secular contents of the constitution. A poster brought out by them in celebration of Women's Day on March 8 boldly states "I am a womanThe world is my battleground" (9).
More recently, a UPI article from 23 August 1995 describes a large conference for women in Bangladesh organized by "Naripokkho." The conference brought together many rural Bangladeshi women, and was held prior to the September 1995 UN Conference on Women in Beijing (ibid.). According to the article,
The organizers said the idea of the Bangladesh meeting was not to echo the U.N. conference, but to lay out a plan of action for a nation in which female literacy is 22 percent and infant mortality nearly 500 per 100,000 live births. Violence against women and lack of security topped the debate as speaker after speaker narrated tales of humiliation at the hands of husbands, police, administration, employers (ibid.).
For more information about the activities of this group, please consult the attached articles.
Information on the possible patrons of this group, or on whether its members have had problems with authorities, could not be found among the sources consulted by DIRB. For general information on "Attacks against non-governmental organizations training women" in Bangladesh, however, please consult the attached October 1994 article from Amnesty International.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 2 June 1988. Mary Kay Magistrad. "Family Planning Program Under Fire in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
UFSI Reports [Indianapolis]. 1987. No. 36. "Women in Bangladesh: Part I: Socio-Economic and Political Status."
United Nations, Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 8 April 1993. (CEDAW/C/BGD/3). Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention. Third Periodic Reports of States Parties: Bangladesh. Vienna: United Nations.
United Press International (UPI). 23 August 1995. BC Cycle. Sabir Mustafa. (NEXIS)
Attachments
Amnesty International. October 1994. Bangladesh: Fundamental Rights of Women Violated with Virtual Impunity. (AI index: ASA 13/09/94). London: Amnesty International, pp. 9-12.
The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 2 June 1988. Mary Kay Magistrad. "Family Planning Program Under Fire in Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
UFSI Reports [Indianapolis]. 1987. No. 36. "Women in Bangladesh: Part I: Socio-Economic and Political Status."
United Nations, Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 8 April 1993. (CEDAW/C/BGD/3). Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention. Third Periodic Reports of States Parties: Bangladesh. Vienna: United Nations, pp. 21-22.
United Press International (UPI). 23 August 1995. BC Cycle. Sabir Mustafa. (NEXIS)
