3 women barred from travelling abroad describe what happened at the airport

Three women have alleged that immigration police at the airport called their parents to ask about their travel plans and professions, and made “indecent” remarks about their clothing, financial means and personal matters. One of the women said an immigration police officer told her that unmarried women were not allowed to travel abroad alone. The three bachelor women, who were prevented from travelling abroad, made these statements to the police on Thursday. On 8 August, they went to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with valid passports, visas or entry permits, and air tickets to travel to Nepal. However, they were stopped from travelling. In response, they lodged a complaint with the additional inspector general of police on 30 August, seeking an investigation and action against those involved. After receiving no response, the three women filed a writ petition with the High Court.

Following an initial hearing on the petition, the court issued a rule and an order on 29 September, directing the authorities to dispose of the complaint the women had submitted to the additional inspector general of police. Ishrat Hasan, the lawyer representing the three women, told Prothom Alo that, following the High Court order, the women were served notices asking them to appear on Thursday to give statements and be questioned as part of the process of disposing of their complaint. A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations. The women were questioned at the relevant office in Rajarbagh. They gave statements, and the recording of statement and questioning lasted around six hours. 'They were travelling to Nepal with their families’ consent’ One of the women stated in her testimony that she had been associated with the Bangladesh International Mediation…