Women’s rights organization Agrajatra Nari Forum has expressed profound concern and strong protest over the unjustified questioning, scrutiny, and harassment of adult female travelers at the airport regarding their marital status, attire, guardian’s permission, and private lives.
The statement follows a recent incident where three adult women holding valid passports and all necessary travel documents were unlawfully obstructed at Dhaka airport while traveling to Nepal. Officials reportedly questioned their unmarried status and insisted on family consent—an infringement that prompted legal action and led the Honorable High Court to issue a rule on the matter.
Reacting strongly to the incident, the organization questioned: “Why should an adult woman not be permitted to travel abroad independently?”
In the press statement, Zakia Shishir, Convener of Agrajatra Nari Forum, stated:
“If an adult citizen intends to travel lawfully with a valid passport, visa, and requisite travel documents, demanding parental or familial consent and barring her journey solely on the grounds of gender, marital status, or solo travel is a gross violation of fundamental constitutional rights. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh unequivocally guarantees gender equality and the freedom of movement for all citizens.”
She further emphasized that personal attire is strictly a matter of individual freedom and choice. Barring specific, legitimate security or legal concerns, no woman should be subjected to invasive questions, derogatory remarks, or harassment based on what she wears. An adult woman possesses the exact same legal rights as an adult man to free movement, education, employment, self-expression, and independent personal decision-making.
5-Point Demands from Agrajatra Nari Forum:
1. No Obstruction for Valid Travelers: No adult woman possessing valid travel documents must be barred from traveling abroad solely due to being a woman, unmarried, or traveling alone.
2. End Discriminatory Interrogation: Immediately halt intrusive, irrelevant, and humiliating questioning regarding women travelers’ marital status, personal attire, or familial consent.
3. Uniform Immigration Standards: Apply equal laws and standardized immigration procedures uniformly to all travelers, regardless of gender.
4. Gender-Sensitive Code of Conduct: Mandate and strictly enforce a gender-sensitive code of conduct for all airport and immigration personnel to safeguard passengers’ dignity, privacy, and safety.
5. Effective Grievance Mechanism: Establish a transparent, responsive, and confidential complaint mechanism at international airports to investigate allegations of harassment and ensure administrative accountability.
