***The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 (MFLO) was meant to discourage rather than delegitimise polygamy. Recently Farida Rahman MP's Private Member's Bill to amend the procedure for polygamy under clause 6 In the MFLO Is not much likely to help the wife from refraining her husband from taking another wife. Whether the permission Is to be obtained from an Arbitration Council or from the Assistant Judge It would not be much difficult for the husband to achieve his desired wish. Women's struggle for rights will be realised only by abolishing polygamy and not by making concessions. Many Muslim countries like Turkey, Tunisia and Iraq has banned polygamy and Bangladesh In order to guarantee equality should not hesitate to follow suit. ***

GOD created man and God has also created woman.

This the genesis of this earth. It is said that God created Man (all human beings) in his own Image and In the eyes of God both men and women are equal. They are partners — they are supplementary and complementary to each other. Yet we have this dtscriminatton between men and women. The majority of the women of the world do not enjoy equal rights with men. Women have been deprived of their legitimate rights. Women are often treated as inferior species and not as human beings. It is a male dominated society and male chauvinism that we are at loggerheads with. Isn't It a bit outlandish that at this fag end of the twentieth century when the world has reached the pinnacle of technological advancements, women should cry hoarse for justice — for rights — for equality? Why is this perennial grievance? Where is the impediment? Why can't we achieve our goals? These are the questions often asked but have remained unanswered.

In every country of this world, In every sphere of life whether It Is the first world or the third world, women have been discriminated against The difference between the western women and ours is that their sufferings get voiced and our women suffer mute.

They have legislations and the enforcement of the rule of taw^ their media come to their help, over and above all they are spared the pangs of social "® a traumatic experience they can rise again because they are economically solvent among other things. But the helpless. miserable women of our society face total extinction.

In the third world countries specially in this subcontinent women are subject to torture, abuse and violence. Women are mere chattels tn the hands of

men. Age old customs, ignorance, poverty have made women remain subservient to the pervert sadist and selfish motives of men. The male dominated society has ensnared the women tn such a way that It Is difficult to beak the shackles of this bondage. The great philosopher Rousseau has said, •man is bom free but everywhere in chains". But ft applies more appropriately to the women of our society. "Woman ts bom free but everywhere in chains." A recent TV documentary broadcast by BBC Asia will vouch for this saying. It is some

thing which Is too weird and bizarre to be true. In the Sind province of Pakistan there still prevails this system of Quaranic marriage'. According to this practice girls are given away tn marriage to the Holy Quran with a dowry of clothes and jewellery just as she would be married to any man. With the marriage the fate of the gtrl is scaled and she has to devote the rest of her life to the teachings of the Quran It is mostly practised among feudal families to safeguard property falling Into hands of the bridegrooms from outside the family. A viewer Is moved to see some of those girls being interviewed, who narrate their harrowing

tales through the veils. It is followed by interviews with the religious leaders some of whom express Ignorance of the prac tice. The destiny of these unfortunate girls is not much far off from the Nurjfhans of Bangladesh who are either stoned or burned to death by the village elders. It Is an irony that these stories are not culled from the pages of the medieval past but take place everyday In modem day history.

Self seekers practice polygamy In the name of Islam. The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance- 1961 (MFLO) was

meant to discourage rather than delegltlmlse polygamy. Recently Farida Rahman MP's Private Member's Bill to amend the procedure for polygamy under clause 6 in the MFLO is not much likely to help the wife from refraining her husband from taking another wife. Whether the permission is to be obtained from an Arbitration Council or from the Assistant Judge It would not be much difficult for the husband to achieve his desired wish. Women's struggle for rights will be realised only by abolishing polygamy and not by making concessions. Many Muslim countries like Turkey, Tunisia and Iraq has banned [iolygamy

and Bangladesh In order to guarantee equality should not hesitate to follow suit. The Holy

Quran says:

Marry women of your choice. Two or three or four.

But if ye fear that ye shall not

Be able to deal justly (with them)

Then only one or a (captive) That your right hand posses. That will be more suitable.

To prevent you from doing injustice. -

Sura Ntsaa

Thus God ordains a man can marry up to four wives, provided he can treat them with perfect equality. In material things as well as in affection and Immaterial things. As this condition is most difficult to fulfill, it Is understood the recommendation to be towards monogamy.

The vast majority of the poor and Illiterate women of our country have neither knowledge of the true Interpretations of the Holy Quran nor any idea about the existence of the MFLO. They have no access to law So they become victims of desertions by their husbands-who go on marrying one wife after another. From a very early age these deserted wives saddled with a few children have to carve a future for themselves. A woman's right is once again violated when her husband abandons her by the pronouncements of three Talaks". This ts also a wrong practice and doesn't have much religious basis.

.It has to be borne in mind that when the question ts "Rights" ft does not come easy It ts not offered on a platter for women to enjoy. You have to fight for it. To fight for it you have to be equipped formidably education and economic solvency are your most effective tools.

The writer. who teaches en glish at a govt college, Is the Secy-General of Bangladesh Federation of Business and Professional Women.