A TEMPORARY SOLUTION

Two days after the Pahela Baishakh incident this year, I was crossing a foot-bridge to go to work near Farmgate. Not that it matters, but I was dressed in jeans, a fatua and had covered myself with a large scarf. As I was crossing, two young boys came towards me from the other side and as they passed me one of them said, "Shikkha hoy nai? Ki porsish eshob?" (Haven't you learned your lesson? What are you wearing?), they also called me a name I will not mention here but you can use your imagination. It pissed me off so much I started screaming at them to stop, but they made a run for it. There were two police officers standing close by and I asked them to help me stop them, but instead they asked me to calm down and let it go. I have been harassed on this bridge before, but it is the only way I can get to work without spending an extra 40 minutes in traffic, so I have been putting up with it, but after what happened in TSC I really think ignoring these monsters just encourages them more. So, I have started carrying a huge iron rod with me when I go to work, I make sure I carry it over my shoulder for everyone to see and so far it has worked. I don't hear one comment and haven't been groped a single time I have crossed that bridge. I encourage other women to do the same.

AH
Gulshan, Dhaka