Abstract:
Sylhet division is located in the North-eastern part of Bangladesh. The greater Sylhet
division contains a significant concentration of ethnic peoples’ of Bangladesh. Among
them, Manipuris are remarkable in approach and activities. Their settlement in this region
brings a long historical legacy of war and conflict among the kings (Raja) of the Manipur
state of India. They have been living in this region for hundreds of years. They mostly
live in the green forest and plain lands close to the nature. The Manipuris of this region
never like the interference of the people of other community, and they never welcome the
stranger. They have their own socio-cultural background, religious beliefs, values, rituals
and economic system. Their patriarchal social structure and restricted approach are the
main hindrance to conduct comprehensive and systematic study on them. The researcher
conducted the study titled on “Gender Discrimination in Manipuri Community of
Bangladesh: An Ethnographic Study” which was very challenging in their socioeconomic
context. This study has been conducted following qualitative approach based
on primary and secondary data.
The ethnographic research design has been followed employing purposive sampling
method. In-depth interview, focus group discussion and observation have been considered
as the most important data collection tools. Study findings reveal that Manipuri
community is not aware about gender discrimination. But gender discrimination exists
extremely in this community; specially women are dominated, neglected and oppressed in
every walk of life. Their position is vulnerable and considering subordinate and inferior to
male. The patriarchal social structure, male dominated family pattern, poverty, lack of
education and awareness, tradition and superstitions, religious beliefs and customs are
responsible for making women subordinate and imposing unequal treatment to them in
Manipuri society. The Manipuris cultural practices also present women as the passive
actors and factors. Gender discrimination starts from family in the community and
prevails throughout the life from birth to death. The glorious ‘Sashthi’ ceremony of a boy
baby’s birth held by the parents and family, and their attitudes express the symbol of
discrimination between a boy and a girl. In family, women take their meals at last and at
least after feeding all other members of the family. Male gets special preference regarding
food, clothes, health, nutrition, movement, education, services, marriage, divorce and
property inheritance. Women have no freedom of choice and decision making rights; they
only bound to hold the decisions of the male. Besides the husband and other male
members of the family, they must obey and respect to the decision of the ‘Panchayet’ (male dominated institution). Furthermore, women are discriminated and harassed by
other women of in-law families. In addition to that they are not only discriminated within
their own community, but also oppressed and harassed by the majority Bengali people.
The government and non-government organizations, civil society, international donor
agencies, political leaders and social workers should play key role to reduce and eliminate
the remaining discrimination against Manipuri women, and to include them in the efforts
of national development as the active partner of holistic development programs of
Bangladesh. The researcher hopes that the study findings will be the path finder and
guidelines for future researchers and academics opening up the horizon of original
knowledge which is assumed to pave the way for further study on the very issue in a
different angle calling attention to policy makers in this regard to promote the situation of
Manipuri women of Bangladesh.