Farah Kabir
Country Director Bangladesh ActionAid
Farah Kabir has been working in the field of development and research for close to 2 decades. She started her career at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). She has research experience and a host of publications especially on Women in Politics to her credit. At present she is working as the Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh since June 2007. She won the “Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award 2012” for her significant contribution in women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Previously, Farah worked with the British Council for close to ten years both in Bangladesh and UK. She was the Consultant Participative Democracy British Council Governance Team in the UK. She has acquired extensive experience and knowledge on development with specific focus on Governance and Women’s issues particularly “women in politics”.
“When we open the dialogue of development, we cannot limit it to the economic sense of the matter; this concept should be extended to social, political, cultural and all other aspects.”
Provided your extensive work in this field, what was the driving force that led you to such a fulfilling career?
I would say that it is a combination of both passion and having a mission. I have always had a passion for justice and diversity. I firmly believe that the many facets of society that include the structure, institution, and political class are not just. Witnessing the stark difference regarding the behavior of girls and women, I made it my mission to create the change I wanted to see. As my career progressed, it became a mission of change.
What is your observation regarding the advancement of our society especially the mindset regarding the development of women?
This is a rather complex answer because we are talking about an entire society, one which contains a wide diaspora of people. For the most part, the world is a patriarchy to the point where this thought process has become a norm. Because of this dynamic, the mindset of our people has not changed to the progressive ideology that is desired. We are definitely seeing that more women are striving towards advancements in economic, social and financial independence. However, they have so many more hurdles to overcome during this process that they are often taken aback. This idea becomes tricky because it involves both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the society. Even though we see an increasing number of women in many work fields and political stratospheres, there has not been much progress in the quality of working conditions and favorability for women. Since the 80s, we have been able to witness the change in the mentality that is for the rights of women from both the private sector and governmental entities. However, since the middle of the last century, these ideologies have somewhat digressed. An act such as the Child Marriage Restraint Act brings to question the progress of our society given that in such time, we must create an official legislation to stop such a heinous act.
There is the concept of the development of women and then there is the concept of women in development. Which aspect is more prominent at the present stage?
If you search at length, you will find that the focus, effort, and investment is on the development of women. Nevertheless, these efforts need to be increased. When we open the dialogue of development, we cannot limit it to the economic sense of the matter; this concept should be extended to social, political, cultural and all other aspects. It is imperative that women themselves are the voice of development because they best understand this dynamic and the need for change. They should be allowed to articulate the priorities that need to be addressed, what is important for them, and how they would like to be treated. The real development of Bangladesh is a matter of creating a platform that provides an active role for women to plan legislations and political climates that create a sense of equality.
“For the most part, the world is a patriarchy to the point where this thought process has become a norm. Because of this dynamic, the mindset of our people has not changed to the progressive ideology that is desired.”
There are still some forces of negation in our society. How can women overcome them?
I believe that there will always be those that are against the progress of women given that the concept of male dominance is such an archaic idea that has been ingrained into our mentality for generations. The primary way to overcome this is for women to be empowered and realize their own capabilities. If you look at this in the context of the economy, the empowerment should come from the ever-significant contribution that women are making in education, RMG, agriculture and many other sectors. In this regard, women must unite and demand that they are given equal pay and recognition. Our society has a profound number of men who are proponents of equal rights and together we can combat barriers of gender inequality.
As a strategist, what is your key success factor in that case?
I do not know whether I am a strategist or not but I am definitely working diligently to change norms and conceptions of society. I believe that strategizing is a natural dynamic of the nature of my work and it allows one to expand their vision and see the bigger picture. You must understand the work, its context and the root cause or purpose for the set task and this is precisely what I have meticulously studied in the context of women. Given that the world is not always appropriate or idealistic, you must consider the financial remunerations for your work along with the environment and how favorable it is; developing the tactic to deal with such matters is a necessity. Also, keep in mind that not every approach to a problem will make way for a solution; you must try to find other methods when you do not face success with an older approach.
The attitude towards women’s involvement in economic activities have not significantly changed. How do you explain this reality?
I believe that this matter is rather complex. Provided that our mindsets have somewhat matured with time, we have observed the economic progress of women. However, introducing some policies which accept concepts such as child marriage seems rather absurd and is a definite step backwards. I work with women at the grassroots level, urban slums and various parts of the country and a great deal of them strive for a future in which they have the independence to work and create their own sense of stability. Unfortunately, due to customs such as dowries and the desire to marry a girl at a very young age, their lives are out of their hands. They are often children themselves when they give birth and this cycle is extremely detrimental. In the context of economic activities in the formal sectors, there is much work to be done if the nation aspires to be a middle-income country, a dynamic that will not be possible without the contribution of women. Education and security should be the major priorities of women in every nation. I would like to highlight that the government has to utilize the large population of millennials, half of which are women. Only then will be able to create a fruitful future.
What are the main challenges you faced during your career?
I am quite fortunate that I have been able to work in a different organization. I have been recognized for the work I do. Generally, I have not been obstructed. I come from a family where my parents are encouraging, always promoting education and the progress of women and men alike. Furthermore, my in-laws and my husband have always been supportive of my career as it should be in every household. I was able to flourish in communities and organizations that promoted my growth as a woman and a professional. Sometimes it is a fact that we have to work under difficult circumstances where policy and legislations are not supportive. The policy, the allocation for development or women’s drive is not sufficient and they pose a great challenge. Right now I find that in our society, inequality has increased and in such a speed that we all are being challenged. Moreover, there is a shrinking political space that we can express our views openly; our society is losing its tolerance.
What kind of future have you envisioned?
My dream is to change the fate of the women and girls of this country. We can bring dignity and respect to the all human beings and turn this country into a nation where discrimination of any form is not welcome.
