Fatema-nur-Majumder

Meet Fatema-nur-Mojumdar. When I stepped onto the path that led to the small BRAC training office in Uttara, I was at first greeted by the line of motorbikes that were kept outside. Upon entering the room I was impressed to find not only her but two other female motorbike drivers who were meticulously doing their file work. As Fatema spoke to me about her life I found a terrific frankness in her attitude. Shades of honesty, sincerity and dedication in her eyes highlighted her character further.

After passing her degree examination, the village girl from Noakhali wanted to do something different with her life. She wanted to work and be independent. At this time she met one of her cousin brothers, whom Fatema lovingly calls "dada", and he encouraged her to get involved with the organization of BRAC. Fatema who loves challenges and who thinks nothing is impossible in life, at once sat for the examination that was required for getting the job. She was particularly attracted by the offer since it required women to ride motorbikes for doing various organization related jobs. Women drivers hardly existed at that time and the whole idea of driving a motorbike seemed really amazing to her.

"My father was at first very stubborn and objected to me doing anything that needed me to work outside home. Even when I was selected for the job, he wasn't happy and tried to make me understand that it wasn't wise for an unmarried girl to do work that required her to ride alone on a motorbike on the streets of Dhaka city. He was particularly worried about my security since I belonged to a very conservative middle-class family and he being in the army thought that he knew our nasty society well. Even you'll be very surprised to know that my father even accompanied me to Chadpur to see my hostel where I lived to receive my training," said Fatema laughing. "It was annoying but I had no choice. So after much of tantrums and occasional fights my father agreed to accept my job. But that too took a long time for him, completing his investigation, to find out whether the workplace was safe, as my job needed me to interact a great deal with male people.

Before Fatema started her work she went through an intensive training course in the BRAC training center of Mymensingh, There she had to attend an orientation. After six months of practicing how to ride a bicycle, she was trained to ride a motorbike within three days. So after she learnt her skill well there was simply no looking back.

Currently, this confident lady is holding the rank of the manager of this training course. Her work involves supervision of the staff and the students of the BRAC schools that are located in Tongi and Uttara. Beside her supervisory work she also works as a teacher when the actual teachers working at the BRAC schools fail to be present. It's also Fatema's duty to see that the students are regularly attending their schools and to submit a regular report on these children's performances.
Since most of the children who study in these schools are poor, Fatema says that they also have to ensure that regular pamphlets and leaflets are spread among the poor parents and they are encouraged in various ways to send their children to school.

When asked whether she has to face any kind of criticisms when traveling on her bike, Fatema, who is a self proclaimed feminist says, 'I often don't bother about the occasional comments of people on the road. They'll say a lot of things but if we sit there and fret about it then it is of no use. I feel great when I ride my bike because it gives me the opportunity to be both physically and financially independent."

Now Fatema is happily married with two kids and lives in Mogbazar. Although her work requires her to go to work three days a week, Fatema still manages some time out of her work to be a dutiful daughter-in-law and a loving wife. Fatema now wishes nothing in life but expects to see within the next five years women in various spheres of our society working shoulder to shoulder with men.

Source: Excerpt of Women On Wheels by By Sarah Zermin Huq; Photo: Zahedul I Khan  (The Daily Star News)