Tiger Widows Bring Bad Luck in Bangladesh

Asharq Alawsat

February 25th, 7:09am

London - Asharq Al-Awsat

“My sons have told me that I am an unlucky witch,” said Ms Mosammat Rashida, PHOTO: AFP

Tigers are an endangered species but climate change and human development is reducing their wild habitat, often forcing them towards villages in search of food. Wildlife charities estimate there are some 100 tigers in the Bangladesh side of the Sundarbans. At least 519 men died from tiger attacks in 50 villages in one district, home to half a million people, between 2001 and 2011, according to Ledars Bangladesh, a charity helping widows reintegrate back in the villages. Their deaths are a double blow for the women left behind. Already grieving the loss of their partner, overnight they become 'tiger widows' pariahs in their homes and villages at a time when they most need support. They are often left with little means to support themselves or their families. In rural Bangladesh, women are being isolated and blamed for their partner's death. "My sons have told me that I am an unlucky witch," Rashida told AFP in her flimsy plank home in the village of Gabura. Her husband died while out collecting honey in the jungles there. "Honey-hunters prefer to collect honey mostly in the southwestern Sundarbans, where most of the man-eaters tigers live," leading Bengal tiger expert at Jahangirnagar University, Monirul Khan, told AFP. Rashida is heartbroken but unsurprised that her adult sons, aged 24 and 27, abandoned her and their two young siblings. "They are part of this society after all," the 45-year-old said, as she wiped tears from her eyes. Next door, Mohammad Hossain was fixing his broken tin roof, and confessed he had been instructed by his wife not to talk to Rashida. "It would bring bad luck," the honey-hunter said. But the head of Ledars Bangladesh, Mohon Kumar Mondal said the mistreatment of "tiger widows" was widespread in highly conservative communities, which often held "centuries old" prejudices. "The charities are working to restore the widows' dignities. The main challenge is to change people's beliefs," he explained. "The change is very slow. Still, I'd say there has been progress," he added, noting that younger, more educated villagers were less fearful of the widows.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2148426/tiger-widows-bring-bad-luck-bangladesh