Dear patriarchy, give me my country back

Battle for equality: The writer hopes other women in Bangladesh will claim back their country to fight the ‘gendered oppression’ there. — AFP

I WAS four years old when it first happened. A middle-aged man, who ran a small department store in the Dhaka neighbourhood I lived in, was babysitting me while my mother went out to fetch some notes from her university. It was difficult raising a child all on her own, and my single mother was grateful that she could leave me in safe company.

I was sitting cross-legged on the floor opposite my babysitter when he pulled me close to his body and put his tongue down my mouth. At first, I was fascinated – I had seen adults kiss each other in television shows and films. But soon after, a dirty feeling came over me. My mouth froze.