Editorial
Simply unheard of!
Inaction of the administration puzzling
As reported in this newspaper yesterday a public road in Mathbaria of Pirojpur district has been made off limits to women by a self-styled 'pir' of the area. And this has been so, as we understand from the report, for quite sometime. It should put all right thinking person to shame to see such a state of affairs prevail in this age.
What is very disconcerting is that the administration has taken no action against an act that is patently illegal, directed exclusively against women, and which has created tremendous inconvenience to the women of the locality, including the fact that they cannot use the services of the post office that happens to be located on that particular road. To cap it all, the so-called pir has had the temerity to put up a signboard displaying the so-called prohibition order, and personally patrol the area with stick to chase away women who venture on the road. The lone man's audacity, apparently, have escaped the notice of the administration.
This is a rabid form of exploitation of religion that must be deterred before it becomes tendentious. Reportedly, sometime back during the erstwhile 4-part alliance regime, a clique had wanted to prevent the use of the road by the womenfolk but had failed in the face of local resistance thus the entry of the fake 'pir'. And the reason for such a 'directive' there happens to be a mosque at the end of the road and as such, according to the bogus 'pir', it is forbidden for women to use the road. The action is dangerous for many reasons but more because there cannot be a more blatantly anti-religious statement than the explanation given. When women are allowed to attend congregation prayers in mosque how can anybody prevent them from using a road on which a mosque is situated? The masjid committee is against the so-called pir's prohibition and that should suffice.
We are baffled at the inaction of the administration. We cannot believe that they are ignorant of the matter either. It is an act that is not only illegal, it also goes against the teachings of Islam.
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