Rural women in Bangladesh: The legal status of women and the conflict between NGOs and religious groups.

The status of women in Bangladeshi society is influenced by religious practices, social as well as patriarchal norms and the interventions of NGOs and the government, especially microcredit. Development of women's economic and social position through microcredit has not been welcomed by some religious and traditional moneylending groups. The conflict between the groups is an important part.

Bangladesh is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world in terms of population. In spite of political turmoil, frequent natural disasters and widespread corruption it has, in less than four decades after its birth in 1972 as an independent state, gained visible success in human development – especially the education of women and girls, family planning and health, and microcredit to the poor. In general, most of the population is religious and devoted to a life of piety. On the one hand, the lives of women are affected by the prevailing patriarchy, religious practices, social and cultural norms. On the other hand, women are also influenced by the conscious interventions of the government, NGOs and microcredit institutions.
In recent decades, the status of women has changed drastically from having limited movement inside the four walls of the home to a dominant presence in society, small businesses, careers in media and private sectors, participation in local as well as national politics, and a greater role in household decision-making.
This study thus provides an analytical discussion on the status of rural women in Bangladesh focusing on the legal status, religious practices, and patriarchal social norms in a new era of economic freedom created by microcredit programmes and government policies. It also analyses the conflict and debate about women and development activities between NGOs and religious groups.