Culture of Silence
This domestic tragedy in Handsworth could be regarded as an extreme isolated incident. But it is also representative of the circumstances of many Bangladeshi brides living isolated lives.
When Musammat Mumtahan (22) left Bangladesh to join her new husband Shuhel Miah (26) in 2002, she had dreams of finding wealth and happiness. Instead she found a well of loneliness. Earlier this month, she killed herself and her two sons, Reheem (2) and Nahim (1). She left no suicide note.
Why did she do it? How could a woman take not only her own life but violate the maternal instinct by taking the lives of her children? It is a question begged in both Taherpur, Mumtahana’s home village in Bangladesh, and her new home of Handsworth in Birmingham. Neighbours say she rarely ventured out of doors and, barely able to speak English, may have become depressed by loneliness and isolation. Some report hearing her crying and screaming after rows with her husband, who often did not return home after work until the early hours of the morning. Members of the city’s Bangladeshi community suggest there was a rift between the couple’s respective families. There have been no arrests in the case, and West Midlands Police are not treating it as suspicious.
A young mother, forced into isolation and struggling with a cycle of acute depression and spiralling distress. In spite of the fact she spoke no English, I’m shocked that there were no avenues for Musammat to reach outside help.
This article takes a long, anthropological look at the story of Musammat and the narrative of thousands of women like her, who arrive in the UK as young brides of men from the Bangladeshi community.
November 6th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
No doubt they kill their children because they think they are doing them a favour - otherwise they may become a ‘burden’. And isn’t that what all women are constantly made to feel afraid of - ‘becoming a burden on your family’. Otherwise they might feel they could demand enough money from their husbands to return home. But if you thought the only thing you were going to get was more hassle and ’shame’ for leaving your husband and becoming a burden - both socially and financially - that prob. makes the situation that much more hopeless.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Soma….
Soma addiction and lying. Soma seeds. Soma. Drug soma. Best online pricing for soma….
February 21st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Soma buy soma cheap soma soma online….
Soma to florida. Soma. Pornstar soma….
March 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 am
My neighbor and I are delighted by your distinguished assumption relative to Culture of Silence. The article will be greatly pragmatic especially to my grandfather of Dorchester .
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Purchase percocet….
Purchase percocet. Percocet purchase online….
April 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Order prescriptions generic xanax….
Generic xanax 2 mg no prescription. No prescription xanax generic. Generic xanax….
April 7th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Cheap viagra….
Cheap viagra. Generic viagra cheap no perscription. Cheap generic viagra….
April 8th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Viagra generic 25mg no prescription….
Generic viagra mastercard. Generic viagra….
April 8th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Cheap phentermine….
Cheap phentermine. Very cheap phentermine. Cheap phentermine worldwide delivery….
April 8th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Free sample viagra uk….
Persciption free viagra. Free trial of viagra. Free sample viagra….
April 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Buy phentermine order cheap online….
Cheap phentermine. Buy cheap phentermine without doctor. Buy cheap phentermine online. Cheap phentermine free sh….
April 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Mg buy phentermine….
Phentermine where to buy. Buy phentermine. Buy phentermine cod. Buy phentermine online. Buy cheap phentermine onli ne. Buy cheap phentermine online. Buy cheap phentermine. Buy phentermine now in the best internet pharmacy….
April 9th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Buy cheap phentermine onli ne….
Cheap phentermine. Cod phentermine as well as cialis cheap reviews….
April 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Ambien online no prescription overnight delivery….
Get ambien without a prescription. Ambien no prescription needed….
April 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Buy ambien….
Buy ambien online wholesale prices save up to no. Buy ambien cr overnight mail md consultation. Where can i buy ambien for next day delivery. Buy ambien overnight mail md consultation. Buy ambien cr. Buy ambien….
April 10th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Phentermine on line without prescription….
Phentermine on line without prescription. Phentermine with no prescription. Phentermine no prescription. Buy no phentermine prescription. Cheapest phentermine without a prescription….
April 11th, 2008 at 4:35 am
2000 mystery date electronic phone board game….
Mobile phone game cheats. 2000 mystery date electronic phone board game. Uno game alltel lg mobile phone. Free game snake for cell phone. Serenity mobile phone game. Cell phone game cheats nightmare christmas. Uno mobile phone game….
April 11th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Phentermine 37 5mg….
Phentermine 37 5mg. Phentermine 37.5mg….
April 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Phentermine and methamphetamine….
Phentermine and methamphetamine….
April 12th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Buy phentermine online extra cheap phentermine….
Buy phentermine online extra cheap phentermine. Re phentermine cheap no prescription extra cheap. Extra cheap phentermine….
April 12th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Side effects of taking phentermine….
Long term side effects of phentermine. Phentermine side effects. Phentermine side effects online phentermine info. Phentermine forums side effects of phentermine….
April 15th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Name of generic drug ambien….
Generic ambien….
April 15th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Buy cheap xanax without prescription….
Cheap generic 2mg xanax. Cheap xanax overnight delivery. Hysbysfwrdd cymrux xanax cheap phentermine. Xanax buy xanax online discoint xanax cheap. Cheap xanax fast delivery. Buy cheap xanax without prescription….
April 15th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Car loan calculator….
Car loan calculator. Used car loan. New car loan. Las vegas new car loan. Car loan. San fransisco federal credit car loan….
April 16th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Payday loans….
Not paying payday loans. Payday loans for small business. Half price payday loans. Payday loans. Low cost payday loans….
April 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Riverwind casino….
Orleans casino. Casino royale. No deposit casino. Casino royale 007. Casino jobs. Casino royal….
April 17th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Buy viagra online….
Buy viagra online. Buy cheap viagra online uk. Viagra buy viagra online….
April 17th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Buy tramadol at a cheap price online….
Cheap tramadol….
April 17th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Cheap xanax online buy cheap xanax buy cheap xanax….
Xanax buy xanax online discoint xanax cheap. Buy xanax online….
April 18th, 2008 at 4:40 am
Polaroid portable gps with dvd player….
Best portable auto gps. Polaroid mgx-0550 portable gps with dvd. Portable gps systems. Portable gps. Cobra portable gps navigation….
April 18th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Magellan gps….
Magellan roadmate 360 gps. Magellan gps. Gps magellan systems. Consumer reports gps magellan. Magellan meridian gold gps manual….
April 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Will tramadol hcl test positive in drug testing….
What is tramadol hcl 50mg. Tramadol hcl liquid. Tramadol hcl. Tramadol hcl 93. Tramadol hcl 50 mg tablet….
April 19th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Free online arcade games….
Free arcade games online without downloading. Free online arcade games. Free arcade games online….
April 19th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Viagra online….
Viagra. Buying overnight viagra. Free viagra. Natural viagra. Viagra without a prescription. Viagra attorneys….
April 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Free online casino games….
Free trail casino games 30 days. Free casino games online. Play free casino games. Casino roulette free download games….
April 21st, 2008 at 1:13 am
Ambien….
Does ambien interrupt the menstrual cycle. Ambien cr 12.5 photo. Ambien online. Ambien. Ambien purchase omline. Photo of ambien cr. Ambien online viagra….
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Herbal viagra….
Herbal viagra….
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Info bc student loans number….
Student loans….
April 25th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Car title loans are they bogus….
Car title loans are they bogus. Cheap car loans. Car title loans salem oregon. Car loans….
April 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Countrywide home loans….
Va home loans. First horizon home loans. 40 year home loans http://www.thepayloan.com….
April 28th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Payday loan….
Payday loan get a quick cash advance. Secured payday loan. Payday loan. State by state payday loan laws. Instant payday loan. Payday loan wisconsin….
April 29th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Grand casino hinckley….
Grand sierra resort casino in reno….
May 26th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Bad credit loans….
Bad credit loans….
May 27th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Maria sharapova porn….
Maria sharapova. Maria sharapova s camel toe close up….
May 30th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Maria sharapova….
Maria sharapova nude. Maria sharapova….
June 1st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Paris hilton….
Paris hilton sextape. Paris hilton crotch shot. Watch paris hilton sex tape. Paris hilton. Brittany spears and paris hilton. Paris hilton upskirt….