Alliance Française de Dhaka is hosting an exhibition to celebrate and give credit to the countless female freedom fighters who have sacrificed a lot for our and our future generation’s freedom.
Since the Liberation War in 1971, the many women who fought for Bangladesh’s independence alongside their male counterparts have not received the recognition that they deserve. Only three have been awarded the title ‘BirProtik’, as opposed to 426 men.
The title ‘Birangona’ (‘war heroine’) was instead given to women survivors of sexual violence during the war. These women soon found themselves exploited once again, often by men who would take for themselves financial rewards promised to the women, leaving them to suffer the stigma of a conservative society alone.
The war isn’t over yet. It is now a war declared on women by a patriarchal society that has stripped them of their identity and selfhood, disregarding all that they sacrificed in the struggle for our independence. This war will not be over until the women who fought for our independence are acknowledged, compensated for their sacrifices, and honoured, as they deserve to be.
This exhibition 'War Is Not Over Yet' is an ongoing research-based project by Mashruk Ahmed. Through the integration of photography, videography, and archival materials, the artist collaborates with women freedom fighters to explore their personal narratives. The exhibition also aims to provide a sanctuary for their stories and experiences.
The exhibition will be open to all till June 26 form 3 pm to 9pm.
