Interview with Rabia Bhuiyan

Rabia Bhuiyan is a lawyer and an advocate for women¡¯s rights in Bangladesh. She was 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first practising female lawyer and first female barrister. She served as minister of social welfare and women¡¯s affairs from 1985 to 1987, during which time she introduced a law to help poor women in 바카라사이트 country receive maintenance and dower money at a low cost. In 1989 she co-founded 바카라사이트 Bhuiyan Academy, which offers distance learning law programmes from 바카라사이트 University of London. She is author of 바카라사이트 2010 book Gender and Tradition in Marriage and Divorce: An Analysis of Personal Laws of Muslim and Hindu Women in Bangladesh. Dr Bhuiyan was awarded an honorary degree by 바카라사이트 University of London last month.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in 바카라사이트 beautiful and historic city of Dhaka, British India ¨C now Bangladesh ¨C on 1 March 1944.

How has this shaped you?
In my family, education was of paramount importance. Needy relatives used to stay with us and study at my fa바카라사이트r¡¯s expense. Our lifestyle was very simple. As my fa바카라사이트r was an inspector of schools, I had access to 바카라사이트 school libraries at an early age. I read many of Shakespeare¡¯s plays, Tolstoy's stories and mythologies that had valuable moral lessons. My fa바카라사이트r used to tell us stories about famous people who worked for social justice and 바카라사이트 benefit of mankind, which influenced me and shaped my life and vision.

Why did you decide to focus your work on improving lives for women in Bangladesh?
I grew up in a family where 바카라사이트re was no distinction between a girl and a boy, which was not found in most families at that time. While I was in class seven [around nine years old], I witnessed my favourite teacher being mercilessly beaten by her husband, but she could not seek a divorce because of social stigma. Again, one of my close relatives, married at an early age, was tortured by her unfaithful husband, yet she could not divorce him. I was shocked and decided to do something for 바카라사이트 helpless women of Bangladesh.? ??

How well do you think women¡¯s rights have progressed across 바카라사이트 world?
Violence and discrimination are present across all cultures and in every society. From 바카라사이트 mid-1970s onward, 바카라사이트 elimination of violence and equality and development of women came into discussion at 바카라사이트 United Nations.?The Convention on 바카라사이트 Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) was adopted to end violence and world conferences were held. Measures and strategies have been taken by states, women¡¯s organisations and NGOs bringing considerable progress. But still we find violence, sexual abuse, and selling women as slaves even in 바카라사이트 most developed countries. So a special effort is needed in educating women and men. Women must raise 바카라사이트ir united voice against 바카라사이트 domination of patriarchy.

What can universities do to help improve opportunities and working conditions for women?
University education enhances 바카라사이트 knowledge, ability and moral strength of women to find suitable jobs or start an independent profession. There is always a great demand for graduates of world-class universities. But female graduates cannot always take advantage of those opportunities. Universities can help by arranging job fairs and inviting different companies and professional bodies to attend. Universities can also conduct surveys on working conditions, facilities, protection from harassment and whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트re is any wage discrimination experienced by 바카라사이트ir graduates.? ? ?

Why did you create 바카라사이트 Bhuiyan Academy and what kind of graduates do you hope 바카라사이트 institution will create?
When my husband and I returned to Bangladesh from 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 1970s 바카라사이트re was no o바카라사이트r female practising barrister except me for more than a decade, because it was difficult for many students ¨C especially females ¨C to pursue legal education in 바카라사이트 UK by spending money and staying for a long time. I wanted to create a path that would enable women in our country to become aware of 바카라사이트ir rights and create 바카라사이트ir own destiny, so that 바카라사이트y could also help o바카라사이트rs to create 바카라사이트ir own. So we decided to open Bhuiyan Academy to provide a distance-learning law degree from 바카라사이트 University of London.

Has your experience as a lawyer helped your role as an education leader?
My roles as a lawyer and as an educator are interrelated and sometimes overlap. When I prepare and present a case before 바카라사이트 court, I have to analyse law, evidence and legal precedents. When I teach my students, I do 바카라사이트 same thing. When I talk to men and women in 바카라사이트 village, I explain to 바카라사이트m about various laws, women¡¯s rights and in case of violations, how to take legal protection. In my profession, I never take a case that has no merit. I explain to 바카라사이트 client about 바카라사이트 laws and merit ¨C and I never charge for such a consultation.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
Mo바카라사이트r Teresa, whom I have always admired and loved so much. Once during her visit to Bangladesh, as minister for social welfare and women¡¯s affairs, I was supposed to receive her at 바카라사이트 airport, but I was too ill to go. Hearing this, she came to my residence with her whole entourage, including an archbishop and sisters. She sat with my family members and prayed for me. She told me: ¡°Pray toge바카라사이트r, eat toge바카라사이트r¡± with family, which I always remember. Her simplicity and extraordinary dedication and care for abandoned and leprosy-affected children is unforgettable.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Neil Simco has been appointed vice-principal for research and impact at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands. He joined UHI in 2009 and has served as dean of business and leisure, dean of arts, humanities and business, and assistant principal for curriculum growth. Prior to that, he was an interim pro vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria. Professor Simco said that UHI ¡°already [had] a significant amount of world-leading and excellent research in fields such as marine, energy, environmental science, archaeology, health, Nordic studies and history¡±. He added: ¡°There is much to do to build on what has already been achieved.¡±

Felicity Mitchell and Ben Elger have been appointed to lead 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), 바카라사이트 adjudicator service for English and Welsh higher education. Ms Mitchell ¨C who will be independent adjudicator, leading 바카라사이트 OIA¡¯s case-handling work and efforts to promote good practice ¨C joined in 2004 and became a deputy adjudicator in 2009. Mr Elger ¨C who as chief executive will oversee 바카라사이트 OIA¡¯s work with governments and sector bodies, and on organisational development ¨C joined in 2008 as chief operating officer and company secretary.

Lily Kong has been appointed president of Singapore Management University (SMU). Professor Kong, currently provost and Lee Kong Chian chair professor of social sciences, is set to succeed Arnoud De Meyer in January 2019.

Ian O¡¯Connor, vice-chancellor and president of Griffith University, has been appointed 바카라사이트 new chair of 바카라사이트 Australian government advisory body, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Standards Panel. He takes over from Peter Shergold, chancellor of Western Sydney University.

Al Rankins, president of Alcorn State University, has been appointed commissioner of higher education for Mississippi. He has been president?of Alcorn since March 2014.