Tabassum decries the harassment of a college teacher, Lata Samaddar, by a policeman, for wearing a teep (bindi). An exclusive for Different Truths.

“Beautified the neck with the Pearl necklace,

    On the forehead vermilion tip, kajal in the eyes,

Crimson attire, the golden hem of the saree.

    Inquire in the mirror-- say the truth

Who is the most beautiful on earth today?”

~ From Bimboboti, Sonar Tori, Rabindranath Tagore, English translation by the author

According to the newspaper reports, a teacher of Tejgaon College has complained that a policeman harassed and hurled abuses at her after seeing a teep (bindi) on her forehead, while she was going to the campus Saturday (April 2, 2022) morning. When she protested, he threatened and tried to run her over with his motorbike, she alleged. 

In a written complaint filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, Lata Samaddar, a lecturer at the college’s theatre and media studies department, said the incident took place in front of Shezan Point shopping mall around 8: 30am.The teacher, who is the wife of Dhaka University professor, Malay Bala, said she came to Farmgate area by rickshaw from her residence and then started walking towards Tejgaon College.

She also mentioned the bike’s number in the complaint. After the incident, she went to three on-duty traffic policemen, who advised her to file the complaint, she added. She contacted, Utpal Barua, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said they could not identify the policeman yet. “We are checking the CCTV footage in the area. The motorbike number she mentioned was incomplete. We are trying to identify whether he was really a policeman or not,” the OC said. 

Teep is a part of Bangladeshi culture and women in Bangladesh, irrespective of their religion. They adorn themselves with bindis as an ethnic practice. In Pakistan, tops are worn by some Muslim girls during Eid. In Bangladeshi culture, a girl’s wedding is incomplete without a teep. I don’t wear tips because it doesn’t suit me. If I am not mistaken, the only day I wore a teep on my wedding day.

I have nothing against teep or hijab or niqab. It’s about freedom of expression and freedom of choice. I don’t wear hijab or niqab. But does it give me the right to criticise or assault the ones who wear it? 

A storm is raging on Facebook. A kind of protest. Is this the solution? Because this sensational story will be forgotten until another shows up. 

Our constitution ensures the rights of dress code according to the individual’s choice regardless of race, religion, caste, ethnicity if it is not obscene in the public. 

We need to find the root cause of it. Radical ideas are trying to grow its root in secular Bangladesh. 

Besides, we need to think what kind of lesson we are giving to our future generation. Are we all educated? The true education lies not within the certificates. But the in educated, polished and, liberal and in the sophisticated minds. 

The strict action should be taken against the assaulter and there should be made an example of it.

The psychologists and sociologists should come forward to investigate the matter with deep insight. 

As a secular and liberal citizen, we should prepare our next generations with liberal thoughts. Or we might be looking into the next? What’s next? Wearing bangles or sidur to be assaulted? Or for wearing Niqab to be bullied? The answers are within us. We need to trace it and do accordingly. Otherwise, our reputation as proud Bangali nation will face profound damage in the future.

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Tabassum Tahmina Shagufta Hussein

Tabassum Tahmina Shagufta Hussein is an aesthete from Dhaka, Bangladesh and MA holder in British and American literature. She is a poet from unheard voices that deals with the Rohingya Refugees, human rights, freedom of expression, typical human desires etc. A humanitarian freelance writer, her poems have appeared in literary magazines. She seeks beauty from the blade of grass to twinkling stars. Aestheticism is the essence of her existence.