‘Jemon khushi temon poro’: Students stage protest at DU
"Nobody bothers me if I walk around like this. Why should anyone be bothered about what they wear?"
This is the question posed by Irfan, a patient of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, as he stood amidst students holding up powerful placards, while singing songs of revolution. I first noticed Irfan squinting his eyes to read the slogans on the signs, while dressed in a lungi, with a gamcha wrapped around his injured neck.
The protest took place on Thursday afternoon, at the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture. Students gathered around to voice their concerns and protest the High Court's comments regarding women's clothing, and how many individuals had supported this notion to control what women wear.
Any and everybody was welcome to join the protest, which was named "Dress as you like". Alongside students of the University of Dhaka, many youngsters also joined in to support the cause.
Protik, an admission candidate, joined the protest sporting a black bindi on his forehead with his fatua asserted, "It's quite simple. Why would you ask someone who's feeling hot to wear a sweater? It makes no sense to take away their comfort, right? This is why I am here."
Others at protest were wearing traditional sarees without blouses, showcasing how the saree was worn back in the day, in response to those who complain about our culture eroding away due to women's clothes.
Nearby, I saw Tahmina, who wore a body-belt over a white shirt. "I do sometimes feel weird when I see a few of my classmates wear burqas, while I'm wearing something different. But it's okay to feel different. It should be okay to wear something that just feels like you," she said.
While many protests surrounding this issue are currently ongoing, "Dress as you like" or Jemon khushi temon poro is a unique concept, as it also celebrates the diversity of our clothes and choices. What's left to see, is where the matter in question eventually leads.
The growing number of protests—particularly the ones using freedom of speech to restrict women's autonomy over their appearance—has brought concerns regarding whether the youth, especially young men, see women as their equals.
*The names in the article have been altered to protect the identities of the students.
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