These days, my heart pounds at the mere mention of the word 'freedom'. It used to carry a sense of pride and power. Now, it stirs fear, panic, and a storm of unanswered questions—especially for women.
In our social system, being born and raised as a woman is not that easy. But lately, for a woman, being born as a woman in this world is considered a cruel irony of her destiny. If it is a developing country like ours, there is no more talk.
Since childhood, I have read this word hundreds of times in the pages of books - 'freedom'
Freedom means a beloved motherland, a flag of that country, a cruel war to protect it for fear of losing the beloved motherland, the indescribable sacrifice of the martyrs, a long-awaited victory. That's all!
But is it really that much? It is not possible to convey the true meaning of freedom by adding a few words, even in the shortest possible time!
I had read several times in the pages of books that it is harder to protect freedom than to achieve it. At that time, I didn't really understand that. But today, I wonder why various questions constantly arise in my mind about this, how much did I actually understand or feel this word at that time? Maybe very little. However, as I grew up, I understood the reality quite a bit. Freedom means that it is not just something that is written in history or on the pages of books, not a few years or notable days, not a bloody war that lasts a few days, months or years. Freedom is basically a battle of every day, a battle of surviving victoriously at every moment.
Being a very ordinary girl. I walk on the streets now with so much fear, work in the office with so much apprehension and hesitation, dream of breaking all the barriers of society and one day I will dream of the crowd.
But is it so simple anymore? Even after 50 years of independence, a woman still has her head held high - will I be able to return home safely alone from the office at night? Will no one raise any questions about my clothes? Will no one want to bury my dreams? Will my words become worthless? - such countless questions. But surely we could not protect our freedom, we have fulfilled our responsibility by achieving it.
As a country, we have become independent, but as an individual, especially as a woman, have I really been able to be independent yet? But how much have I been able to be?? Where we constantly have to fight against unequal treatment, where society sometimes gives half importance to our decisions and sometimes it freely places the entire burden of blame on us and sits silently. But what do we want, why do we want it? No one even thinks about it seriously. But is a woman's freedom complete here? The question remains!!
Yet, despite so many obstacles and dangers, women do not give up. Because women have never learned to give up! As a mother, as a life partner, as a child, women are fighting hundreds of battles daily at home and outside home. Maybe one day the final smile will be hers!!
As a woman, freedom means to me today - being able to develop myself as myself, ensuring my highest security, being able to stand up against all injustice and say 'no' clearly, being able to move forward to realize all my dreams without hesitation.
Today, I want to be free not only in the so-called map of this country, but in my thoughts, in my decisions, in every step of my life. Because, my freedom means one day a Bangladesh where no girl will be afraid of herself, her existence. Where freedom will be for you, me, and all of us.
The writer is Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) Correspondent for The Daily Observer and a 4th year student at Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Science (FTNS) in the university.
