Dhaka, First Published Dec 31, 2021, 5:32 PM IST
The Bangladeshi government has backtracked on its decision to bring the beach to women only. The decision was withdrawn following strong criticism on social media and outside that it was a move to appease Islamic fundamentalists. The women-only beach at Cox’s Bazar, which the government launched on Thursday, has now been relocated to the public, saying beaches where men and women interact are a threat to women’s safety.
Cox’s Bazar Beach in Bangladesh is the largest natural beach in the world. The 150-meter section was reserved for women only. A special beach project has been set up here to ensure that the beach is safe for women and children to visit. This was welcomed by some Islamist organizations.
In the meantime, there has been a flurry of criticism, including on social media. The government has been criticized for turning Bangladesh into a Taliban state at the behest of Islamic fundamentalists. Another criticism was that Islamists want a Bangladesh where men and women do not see each other and that the government is fertilizing it. The government quickly withdrew the decision after the issue became a hot topic on social media.
Government sources said the beach was brought for women only because some women demanded it. They demanded a separate beach, citing embarrassment and reluctance to go in front of strangers. The government only aimed at the safety of women. The gang-rape of a woman on the same beach had sparked huge protests. Following this, Abu Sufyan, the official in charge of the tourism department, told Reuters news agency that such a decision was taken in the interest of women’s safety.
Islamist groups have been calling for the introduction of Islamic practices in the Muslim country of Bangladesh. Recently, Islamist groups have staged large-scale protests demanding separate places for women and men in workplaces and factories. Shortly afterwards, the government launched a women-only beach project.
Last Updated Dec 31, 2021, 5:32 PM IST
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