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Bangladesh

Young Feminism Network

Feminism is evolving around the globe. Through diverse projects, we have been exploring how young Bangladeshis approach and explore questions on the subject. Outcomes include reading circles, essays, podcasts, deep listening experiences, visual art, poems, illustrations, a conference and a magazine.

Telling Stories of Womanhood

Womanhood � Kotha

Womanhood

An audiovisual archive of gendered experiences and gender perceptions. In partnership with Kotha, Bonhishikha, and Naripokkho, we explore diverse intrapersonal relationships with womanhood of people with different backgrounds and gender identities across Bangladesh.

Women and Media

Young Feminism � Goethe-Institut

Vodcast
 Young Feminism

With DW Akademie and four universities, we initiated a platform for journalism students from across the country to further the discussion on feminism. In teams of two, students interview artists and cultural practitioners.

Women and Media � DW

Article
 Women and Media

With DW Akademie, feminists gain a new platform to answer the question: What does feminism mean to you?

Click to watch all panel discussions

Cassandra�s Eyes Magazine

Is the imagination pure? Cassandra�s end, in the Greek myth, is a night just beyond the grasp of justice; her eyes become her fatal calling, for her vision of the Fall of Troy frightens the men around her. Even �the gods,� Apollo.

Artwork � Farzana Islam

Cassandra�s Eyes

This is a space where we invite women (and their others) to imagine �culture� as a site of contention and possibility, time and superluminal travel. 

I Belong

Our Young Feminism Network leveraged their work and passion to create various on-site and online events across generations, genders, class, Bangladesh, Germany, UK, and India to discuss contemporary societal questions along with the International Women�s Day 2022.

Feminsm Page - I belong

Click to get to four recorded panel discussions / Schauen Sie sich hier alle Podiumsdiskussionen an

  • Photograph of Paddmini Chakma. The show exhibited the portraits of nine young feminists of Bangladesh, layered on top of which are maps of significant areas in Bangladesh where a sexual assault had taken place. Each of these photographs capture the indomitable spirit of the feminist who despite the toxic misogynistic culture always fight back. � Ashfika Rahman
    Photograph of Paddmini Chakma. The show exhibited the portraits of nine young feminists of Bangladesh, layered on top of which are maps of significant areas in Bangladesh where a sexual assault had taken place. Each of these photographs capture the indomitable spirit of the feminist who despite the toxic misogynistic culture always fight back.
  • Fotografien der neun Feminist*innen im Rampenlicht � Ashfika Rahman
    Fotografien der neun Feminist*innen im Rampenlicht
  • The artist and her mother at the exhibition. Through a video clip the visitor was able to experience an intimate conversation between the artist Ashfika Rahman and their mother, a single mother and social activist, paving the way for the next generation of feminists. Rahman attempts to represent the conversations between women across various generations � Ashfika Rahman
    The artist and her mother at the exhibition. Through a video clip the visitor was able to experience an intimate conversation between the artist Ashfika Rahman and their mother, a single mother and social activist, paving the way for the next generation of feminists. Rahman attempts to represent the conversations between women across various generations
  • "�Break the rules, smash the patriarchy, I belong too� - symbolizing these ongoing narratives around feminism, we felt the need for a conversation between the older generation who have fought for our rights and the younger generation of feminists who might be facing new challenges. We all came together to offer a platform to understand their perspectives and their desire to contribute to the cause," opening speech by Dr. Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh (middle) with the representative of the project partner Priya Esselborn, Program Director, Bangladesh (India, Afghanistan), DW Akademie (left) and Ashfika Rahman, Artist and Curator (right) � Snighdha Sultana
    "�Break the rules, smash the patriarchy, I belong too� - symbolizing these ongoing narratives around feminism, we felt the need for a conversation between the older generation who have fought for our rights and the younger generation of feminists who might be facing new challenges. We all came together to offer a platform to understand their perspectives and their desire to contribute to the cause," opening speech by Dr. Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh (middle) with the representative of the project partner Priya Esselborn, Program Director, Bangladesh (India, Afghanistan), DW Akademie (left) and Ashfika Rahman, Artist and Curator (right)
  • A documentary clip exhibiting the opinions of strangers; their faced pixelated in order to keep their identity anonymous on the streets of Dhaka were asked to share their ideas on feminism bringing forth the reality of the existing misogynistic perception and religious stigmas surrounding the issue. "Although the clips aware us on the narrow-minded perception of most people towards women in Bangladesh, we have to understand that it is not entirely their fault. In order to succeed in this movement, we need to determine why they hold this view and subsequently work towards changing it in a way that makes feminism a part of people's consciousness." shares Ashfika Rahman. (Film still photographed by Snighdha Sultana) � Ashfika Rahman
    A documentary clip exhibiting the opinions of strangers; their faced pixelated in order to keep their identity anonymous on the streets of Dhaka were asked to share their ideas on feminism bringing forth the reality of the existing misogynistic perception and religious stigmas surrounding the issue. "Although the clips aware us on the narrow-minded perception of most people towards women in Bangladesh, we have to understand that it is not entirely their fault. In order to succeed in this movement, we need to determine why they hold this view and subsequently work towards changing it in a way that makes feminism a part of people's consciousness." shares Ashfika Rahman. (Film still photographed by Snighdha Sultana)
  • Besides the powerful photographs, statements from these feminists were hand printed on their mothers' belongings. � Ashfika Rahman
    Besides the powerful photographs, statements from these feminists were hand printed on their mothers' belongings.
  • This photo shows a quote in the Chakma language � Ashfika Rahman
    This photo shows a quote in the Chakma language
  • Poems by Aahir Mrittika from their debut collection of poems The Unforgiving City and I, illustrated by Meheruba Hasin. Photographed by Snighdha Sultana � Ashfika Rahman
    Poems by Aahir Mrittika from their debut collection of poems The Unforgiving City and I, illustrated by Meheruba Hasin. Photographed by Snighdha Sultana
  • Visitors at the exhibition that took place at DrikPath Bhaban along with a gender worksop, an artist talk, poetry recitals, a musical performance, and various conversations, from 6-8 March 2022. Photographed by Snighdha Sultana � Ashfika Rahman
    Visitors at the exhibition that took place at DrikPath Bhaban along with a gender worksop, an artist talk, poetry recitals, a musical performance, and various conversations, from 6-8 March 2022. Photographed by Snighdha Sultana
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A multimedia exhibition by artists of the Young Feminism Network provided a holistic insight of the generation�s zeitgeist. Curator and artist Ashfika Rahman attempted to represent conversations through the exploration of the feminism consciousness.

The Unforgiving City and I

With Bengal Publications, we published young writer Aahir Mrittika�s debut collection of poems. Set in Dhaka, the poems avenge and memorialize the heartache of growing up in the city as a young girl. Aahir is a 20-year-old writer and activist from Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

Further projects

Through Her Eyes � Under Construction by Rubaiyat Hossain

Through Her Eyes

An inclusive space to view and discuss films of and with women filmmakers from Bangladesh?
 

�bernatural: Unlocked_Screenshot of Sultana's Dream Reading I Illustration by Chitra Ganesh Screenshot of Sultana's Dream Reading I Illustration by Chitra Ganesh

�bernatural: Unlocked

Murals featuring twelve supernatural women characters from Bengali and German folk tales 

Sister Library � Sister Library

Sister Library

Circle readings to celebrate female literary creativity with HerStory Foundation, founded by Aqui Thami

Ami Birangona Bolchi � HerStory & Goethe-Institut

Ami Birangona Bolchi

An appeal to change the narrative of women in Bangladesh Liberation War from victims to active agents?

Menstrupedia: Learning about periods in a fun and easy way. Menstrupedia: Learning about periods in a fun and easy way. | � Mestrupedia.com (detail)

With comics against prejudice
 "AGAINST STIGMA ON MENSTRUATION"

Menstruation is rarely discussed in India, because women on their periods are considered to be impure. With the aim of eliminating misunderstandings about menstruation, Aditi Gupta, together with her husband Tuhin Paul, has launched the educational comic Menstrupedia, which has been translated into 15 languages, including 11 regional Indian languages. What follows is a  conversation with the founder about purity, shame and feminism in India.

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