From Land Rights to Women’s Football: Amplifying the Voices of the Voiceless
Badabon Sangho recommends a uniform family code to promote women's land rights and advocates for climate adaptation measures that place emphasis on marginalized women's health and economic well-being.
For the second publication of ImpactInk, Aftab Ahmed, BacharLorai's Director of Policy Research, and Madhuri Kibria, BacharLorai's Program Manager for Policy Research, interviewed Lipi Rahman, Badabon Sangho's Executive Director, and Mamun Ur Rashid, Badabon Sangho's Coordinator, to shine a light on the admirable work being done by their organization in advocating for Bangladesh’s marginalized communities. Badabon Sangho is a women’s rights and women-led organization, supporting lower-caste individuals, Dalits, single mothers, separated individuals, widows, divorcees, religious minorities, and girls.
BacharLorai was pleasantly surprised to learn about the many initiatives of Badabon Sangho in Bangladesh, particularly as they address issues frequently ignored by policymakers and the media. Could you provide some insights into the history of Badabon Sangho and the key areas your organization focuses on?
Lipi Rahman and Mamun Ur Rashid: We started our journey in 2015 in Rampal, Bagerhat, initially focusing on land rights. Over the years, we have expanded our focus to address a broader range of issues that disproportionately affect women, especially in rural parts of Bangladesh. Our core mission centers around women’s rights, dealing with family and paternalistic issues where women often lack necessary documentation and face systemic barriers to accessing land. This problem is exacerbated by public and private land acquisition and grabbing, which sidelines women from the discourse on empowerment and equality.
In our work, we have observed that women are frequently left out of important conversations around land rights. Unfortunately, they are not aware of resources or services available to them, such as the Bhumi Office at both the Upazila and Union levels, and often lack basic knowledge about their rights.
In rural households, only about 13 percent of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70 percent of men. This is despite the fact that 72 percent of the female labor force is engaged in agriculture. To tackle these issues, we operate primarily through volunteer efforts, organizing women groups that focus on transferring knowledge. This grassroots approach has proven effective in empowering women gradually in Rampal and beyond.
Our challenges are many, including dealing with climate change, which has hit our communities hard, impacting physical health — primarily sexual and reproductive health — mental well-being, and food security. Our thematic areas of focus now include land rights, climate change adaptation, migrant worker rights, women fisherfolk rights, women's agriculture, Indigenous and Dalit women's rights, and combating violence against women and girls.
As for our organizational structure, we are group-based and the scope of our work has expanded significantly over the years. Currently, we have over 4,306 members, including 129 village committees, and we actively involve them in leadership roles within our three federations. Unlike typical NGOs or non-profits, our leadership and executive committee members come from the grassroots level — these women who work in the field are the real change-makers.
In addition to advocacy and rights education, we conduct training sessions to build capacity and address physical issues that affect our community. We also focus on data organization to better understand and address the needs of our people. We also support a girls’ football team, the Kishori Dol which includes young girls aged 12 to 25, as part of our commitment to empowering young women through sports and teamwork. It has been a rewarding journey, and despite the challenges, seeing the tangible impact of our work in communities keeps us motivated to push forward and expand our reach throughout Bangladesh.
The intersection of Dalit women, Indigenous women, and land rights has caught BacharLorai’s attention. Could you elaborate on the challenges that Indigenous and Dalit women face in securing their land rights? Are there ways to measure the extent of these barriers? Additionally, could you share if any public policy changes influenced by your advocacy have helped these groups in safeguarding their land rights?
Lipi Rahman and Mamun Ur Rashid: The intersection of Dalit and Indigenous women with land rights is a critical area of focus for us, especially given the historical and systemic challenges they face. In Bangladesh, the land administration is primarily guided by the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1949, a holdover from British and Pakistani times. This law, combined with the reliance on religious or personal laws and family codes of conduct that do not favor women’s equality, severely restricts women's rights to land.
Women are often unaware of the necessary paperwork, and there is a strong family bias that favors men, resulting in women receiving less land and often land that is less valuable. Data collected by Badabon Sangho between 2018 and 2020 found that 75 percent of women who attempted to claim their right to land and property faced different forms of gender-based violence.
The situation is particularly dire for Dalit women, traditionally part of communities involved in sanitation and cleaning-related work, brought from regions like Bihar, which is in modern-day India, and who face severe discrimination and stigma. They often do not have land rights, are not given access to their rightful inheritance, and face eviction from their settlements without any legal recourse.
Similarly, Indigenous women face significant challenges due to the community ownership model that has been eroded over time. Since the 1930s, much of the land that was under community ownership has been transferred to government control, making it difficult for Indigenous communities to prove ownership, especially in forested areas. There is a major lack of checks and balances which allows private and public investors to maintain an unequal power dynamic with these communities.
Regarding quantifying these barriers, it is extremely complex because the issues are deeply entrenched in societal, legal, and bureaucratic frameworks. However, our advocacy efforts aim to bring these issues to light and push for reforms. We advocate for the digitization of inheritance records and the universalization of the family code of conduct that transcends religious laws, aiming to make these systems more inclusive and equitable.
Public policy changes stemming from our advocacy have been incremental. One area of progress is in raising awareness and initiating discussions about reforming the legal frameworks that govern land rights. We are advocating for better regulations and control mechanisms to curb land grabbing, which disproportionately affects women from minority communities. Here, public and private land investments often lead to inflated land values and exploitation. The journey towards achieving substantial legal and social changes is long and filled with obstacles, but every step forward, however small, contributes to securing better protection and rights for marginalized groups.
Let us discuss the case of Bangladeshi migrant workers. BacharLorai recognizes their fundamental role in driving positive outcomes for the domestic economy, particularly through remittances, which is a significant driver of Bangladesh's economic development. Could you shed light on the challenges these female migrant workers face, including issues of sexual violence and stigma?
Lipi Rahman and Mamun Ur Rashid: Certainly, the role of migrant workers in Bangladesh is immensely significant, especially for the economy through remittance inflows. However, female migrant workers face several severe challenges that are often overlooked.
First, only about 2 to 4 percent of Bangladeshi migrant workers are women, who typically go through brokers or intermediaries, often referred to as Dalals. These intermediaries can be sources of miscommunication and misinformation about the nature of the work and conditions abroad. This misalignment often starts at the training centers, where the training provided does not match the actual job requirements they face overseas, such as in places like the United Arab Emirates.
One of the most pressing issues these women face is the lack of security and protection, particularly against sexual violence. Many female migrant workers report that they are sent abroad illegally, end up in different types of jobs than promised, and without any real protection or security measures in place. Moreover, our research indicates structural problems in how reintegration of these women is handled when they return to Bangladesh. Social stigma is a huge barrier. The community and even their own families may view them with suspicion or disapproval because of their time spent abroad. There is a troubling narrative where women who have been abroad are viewed negatively, which exacerbates their vulnerability and isolation upon return.
Additionally, the support provided by government institutions like embassies and high commissions are often inadequate. There have been numerous reports indicating that the embassies are not proactive enough in providing the necessary help or aid packages to these workers when they are violated or face other crises abroad. Since 2019, efforts have been made to improve training and awareness among potential migrant workers. However, much remains to be done to ensure that these workers are properly informed, trained, and supported both during their time abroad and after their return. This includes ensuring their safety, defending their rights, and helping them reintegrate smoothly into society without stigma or exploitation.
The threat posed by climate change, particularly in the southern belts of Bangladesh, is undeniable. Can you discuss your findings regarding the intersection of climate justice with women’s rights related to land, water, and agriculture?
Lipi Rahman and Mamun Ur Rashid: We are seeing that in the coastal areas such as Mongla, sea levels are rising and so is saline intrusion, leading to a major shifts in the traditional livelihoods in the region. Men tend to migrate to major cities to seek employment, while women are left behind to manage caregiving duties which takes away from their ability to earn a living independently. The women primarily engage in fishing, agriculture, and domestic work, and they are often not paid the optimal or correct wages for these jobs.
Additionally, young girls are vulnerable to violence and discrimination, and face barriers to education. The negative physical health-related effects resulting from a lack of freshwater access, safe drinking water, and spending long hours in water with high salinity for work are particularly concerning. Compounded by high levels of humidity, they experience skin diseases, hypertension, and sexual and reproductive health issues with many facing pregnancy complications and having to undergo hysterectomies at an early age.
The lack of economic opportunities, health infrastructure, and protection mechanisms in rural areas also leaves women and girls at risk of trafficking and exploitation. A report on human trafficking by the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime found that 51 percent of people across the country fall victim to trafficking in pursuit of a better living. Research conducted by UN Women has also found that 47 percent of women in Bangladesh face intimate partner violence, which ramps up in the aftermath of climate-induced natural disasters as well.
From a government or public policy perspective, what are three policy changes you would like to see to better address the issues you have identified?
Lipi Rahman and Mamun Ur Rashid: First, regarding land rights, we need to move towards a uniform family code that would reduce disparities in how land rights are handled across different communities.
Second, concerning climate change, while Europe often focuses on mitigation, our approach needs to emphasize adaptation projects, particularly concerning women's health and broader health issues, which are not currently prioritized. Bangladesh has primarily focused on infrastructural needs but also needs to consider livelihood and economic empowerment, areas that the government has yet to fully address.
Third, health and reproductive health issues remain severely underserved areas. There is an absence of these issues in the government's comprehensive Annual Development Plan. Upazila Health Complex and Community Clinics are often not equipped or oriented to tackle new health challenges, leaving a significant number of women suffering without adequate support. Our recommendation is that the government should allocate part of the Annual Development Plan’s budget specifically to address these issues.
Lipi Rahman is a seasoned professional in the development sector, with a career spanning since 2004. In 2016, she co-founded Badabon Sangho in Rampal, Bagerhat, and currently serves as its Executive Director. Leading this women's rights organization in Bangladesh, Lipi and her team focus on advocating for the rights of women and girls, especially those in vulnerable situations such as single mothers, widows, religious minorities, Indigenous women, and those with disabilities. Badabon Sangho is dedicated to increasing women's access to and control over lands, property, water-bodies, and championing the rights of migrant workers. Through her leadership, Lipi has mobilized and organized 4,457 women across 60 women's organizations, empowering them to actively engage with local governments and assert their rights.
Mamun Ur Rashid is a development practitioner with a rich history in non-profit program development and fund mobilization. Currently serving as the Coordinator at Badabon Sangho, his expertise spans various national and international non-profit organizations such as BRAC, Democracy Watch, VSO International, HelpAge International, ACDI/VOCA, Uttaran, and UNDP. With a focus on land administration and management, Mamun employs participatory tools for dispute resolution, from registration to mutation and transfer processes.
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About ImpactInk
ImpactInk, a dedicated platform under BacharLorai, curates and publishes essential discussions and insights from the non-profit, philanthropy, and social impact sectors. Designed to address the need for a cohesive discourse platform in these areas, ImpactInk aspires to serve as the go-to hub for policy insights and collaborative idea exchange.
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