The country has been engulfed in endless political protests. Meanwhile, a demonstration of a different kind took place over a ban on rickshaw drivers wearing a traditional garment that is worn by millions throughout the country.
Crowds of young Bangladeshis filled the streets of Dhaka three weeks ago wearing colorful lungi to protest the ban on the dress in our diplomatic enclave, Baridhara.
Anyway, about 400 marchers protested the recent ban on rickshaw drivers from wearing the lungi in Baridhara. Most of them wore the traditional lungi. The peaceful rally was announced on Facebook just days after the chairman of the Baridhara housing association, said only rickshaw pullers wearing trousers would be allowed to work the area.
Lungi are in some circles considered to be worn by the lower class, but is the most commonly worn garment by men in Bangladesh. Even the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, wore a white lungi often to show his solidarity with the people of his homeland. The ban is even sadder since the average income of a rickshaw-wallah is about $4 a day, excluding rental fees for the rickshaws of around $1 per day.
As the demonstrators marched towards Baridhara chanting "lungi, lungi", they were stopped by dozens of police blocking the entrance with guns and batons in hand. Protesting is not allowed in diplomatic zones, they were reminded by the officers on the scene.
Crowds of young Bangladeshis filled the streets of Dhaka three weeks ago wearing colorful lungi to protest the ban on the dress in our diplomatic enclave, Baridhara.
Vlad and I witnessed the ban first hand when our favorite rickshaw driver, Babu was pulled over and not allowed into Baridhara because he was wearing a lungi. We fought with the police officer and managed to somehow get him instead. We ended up inviting him for dinner and Vlad donated him some of his clothes which amazingly were the right size.
Anyway, about 400 marchers protested the recent ban on rickshaw drivers from wearing the lungi in Baridhara. Most of them wore the traditional lungi. The peaceful rally was announced on Facebook just days after the chairman of the Baridhara housing association, said only rickshaw pullers wearing trousers would be allowed to work the area.
Lungi are in some circles considered to be worn by the lower class, but is the most commonly worn garment by men in Bangladesh. Even the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, wore a white lungi often to show his solidarity with the people of his homeland. The ban is even sadder since the average income of a rickshaw-wallah is about $4 a day, excluding rental fees for the rickshaws of around $1 per day.
As the demonstrators marched towards Baridhara chanting "lungi, lungi", they were stopped by dozens of police blocking the entrance with guns and batons in hand. Protesting is not allowed in diplomatic zones, they were reminded by the officers on the scene.
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