Getting connected in Bangladesh
The second instalment of our series spotlighting gay life in a foreign country looks at Bangladesh, a country that receives relatively little international attention but is at the beginning of a journey toward major equality and acceptance.
Dhaka-raised, Quazi Haque, 29, describes a Bangladesh where neither society nor the government recognises the existence of a gay and lesbian population.
There is no social acceptance for gay people. I chose not to -˜come out’ because I didn’t want my parents to be socially embarrassed, Quazi said. There wasn’t really any threat of bodily harm, just a potential to be isolated from society.
Nazrum Islam, Counsellor with the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra says that Bangladeshi society does not permit homosexuality. The population is 90 percent Muslim and it is not allowed in Islam, he said. That is why there is no official recognition of homosexuality in Bangladesh.
Quazi believes the reason lies partially with religion.
It is wrong when the Government is represented as not recognising homosexuality because Islam doesn’t approve. Bangladeshi laws and the Constitution are independent of Islamic laws, Quazi said. The grip of the religious leaders is weak but Bangladeshi society is not bold enough to go against the teachings of the religion.
As a result of the culture, Quazi’s teenage years were not easy.
Without any support, I suffered a lot growing up.
Quazi was determined to make a difference and provide a support network for the gay population of Bangladesh. The challenge would be how. As Bangladesh had no gay infrastructure, Quazi was starting from the very beginning.
The solution came in the form of the internet.
A Yahoo group was the easiest method I found to connect the gay population of Bangladesh. I created Boys of Bangladesh or BOB, he said.
Since creating the Yahoo group in late 2002, BOB has become the central hub for all gay communication in the country. Virtually all websites now discussing gay Bangladesh list BOB as the main support avenue for Bangladeshis.
A group of six volunteers moderate all postings, with Quazi moderating some posts on his laptop in Sydney. Quazi believes the success of the group lies in the impartiality of the moderators.
BOB essentially established rules for the Bangladeshi gay society.
Without boundaries everyone can do whatever they want. I wanted the gay Bangladesh society to mature and have rules in which to make their lives liveable, Quazi said. Through BOB I’ve achieved that to some extent.
BOB is not only confined to the virtual world. The moderators also organise activities such as dinners, picnics and movies.
Through BOB gay people could establish friendships and not just meet other men for sex, he said.
Acts of homosexuality are illegal in Bangladesh under the British imperial remnant, Section 377. However, this law is rarely, if ever, used to prosecute offenders.
Quazi, who currently works as an engineer, came to Sydney in 2003.
I couldn’t live honestly in that society. Even today, and despite BOB, there is still no one in Bangladesh who will openly identify as gay, he said.
Change takes time. In the last five years a lot has been achieved. The pace is getting faster and faster. I think in 20 years Bangladesh will have everything that Sydney has today.
Bangladesh can feel isolated and lonely for that country’s gay and lesbian population.
I wanna join bob. But I dont know the address in facebook of bob and the address where i can join bob. I m from bangladesh.
I wanna join bob, so anyone plz help me. my email address:[email protected]
BOB is a driving force for the gay community in Bangladesh. I was one of the earliest members of BOB, certainly Quazi showed me the way, when it only dealt with the problems of an elite educated class. Gradually, BOB expanded focusing on the common issues and crisis of all gay men in Bangladesh. Now, apart from organizing fancy dance parties, BOB has launched several social awareness programs. Therefore, it is recognized by international organizations and has also received admiring responses from different parts of the world. It will take decades to remove the social Homophobia from Bangladesh but we are optimistic.
BOB is also inspiring other NGOs in the country. Most of the members of this community are very strong and influential professionals of Bangladesh, hence, they are providing feedback to unite the gay voices of all gay citizens of our country.
Saad
Dhaka, Bangladesh
A proud member of BOB
Well done my dear friend QUAZI HAQUE.
its like a sketch of Bangladeshi gay life.
and we are always great full to you for create BOB and being with us for this journey.
A Big Thanks
Xecon
Dhaka,Bangladesh
Member of BOB
All journey begins with a first step, and BOB is just that first step in to the wide wild gay world. I agree with Quazi in twenty years time Bangladesh will probably have everything that Australia has to offer today. Mind you since BOB began, Bangladesh now has a lot of other on line gay socialising sites, including MALE BANGLADESH – http://malebangladesh.spruz.com/ and benGAYliz http://www.bengayliz.com
One more thing I would like to enlight though is that the government is probably not all that negligant after all because there is a lot of projects and work shops has been introduced in the countery, since the Naz Project of uk did a research study on gay sex in 1996 and found that as many as 10% of the population could be gay. Also last year BRAC University’s James P Grant School of Public Health hosted the first international Workshop on Gender and Sexuality. Where people from India, Pakistan, U.K. U.S.A. and number of other countries participated. So it’s all happening. Now all we need to do is stop hiding ourselves (as we bengalies do)in the closet and protest and demand for a visiable existance(or call it freedom)in the community.
aadhiUK
The aim of Boys Of Bangladesh (BOB) is to help gay people living in Bangladesh. We are not working for Bangladeshi people trying to get PR in other countries like in Australia. Here is the link: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/boysonlybangladesh
In fact, we hate it when some Bangladeshi people make up horrible stories to stand a case for asylum. Here I want to reaffirm the fact that there is not a single report of any legal action against any homosexual in Bangladesh. There are reports of police harassments however, which is a result of some corrupt cunning policemen trying to make some money. That is true for both homo and hetero sexual men looking for sex in public places.
We don’t want all homosexual people leave Bangladesh. Rather we want to make Bangladesh a fair place for homosexuals. Our group is seeking help from all international organisations to create international pressure on Bangladesh government to scrap the British imperial remnant, Section 377, which says unnatural sexual act is illegal and punishable. Though this law was never used to presecute any homosexual, it is important that it is removed. Until then, homosexuality is illegal in Bangladesh.
Quazi can you please give out the website address. Alan Brennan
Great idea Quazi, I expect you are aware there Bangladeshi gay and bisexuals in the community here in Australia that would benefit from your website. There are some in detention too in the Immigration Centres ie Villawood. Has your web address been sent to the various organisations that are trying to help these people, i.e RAAC, CAAH, Amnesty Gay Group, PFLAG, Keep on keepin, on. Alan Brennan
A wonderful insight into the struggle of people in a repressed society, but more importantly the power one person can make in the lives of many and society itself.
a very insightful article, lyndon. it is unfortunate that, in the 21st century, gay people must endure such marginalisation in society. we are lucky to live in australia, but there is alot more to be done to remove discrimination. however, countries like bangladesh seem to have a much longer journey ahead of them.
looking forward to reading future instalments on other countries’ attitudes towards gays. keep up the good work :-)
We live in hope for peoples from the Islamic communities and their plight to be themselves
nice lyndon
thainks
luis
I love it! An excellent piece of writing about a true gay warrior!!!!
Its so interesting to hear about how isolated one can feel when living in a country like Bangladesh.
We are so lucky to be gay and living here in Australia.