To change customary norms on the division of work between men and women and ensure men's equal share of household work, husbands ground onion and dried chilli in front of their wives. The unusual event in Barguna was organised by the non-government development organisation Jago Nari.

It was held under the Women Lead in Emergencies (WLiE) project, implemented with technical support from CARE Bangladesh and funding from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The week-long "Gender Role Shifting Game" contest ended at 10am on 15 September in Jangalia village of Ayla Patakata union in Barguna Sadar upazila. The event, held at the Babar Ali Pakhi house premises, was chaired by former union parishad member Nizamuddin.

Ten men from the community took part. Selim Howlader, Shamsul Haque and Nasir Uddin Pyada were the judges, and more than a hundred local men and women enjoyed the event.

Contestant Nasir Uddin of the Itbaria area told Jago News: "Our wives go through a lot doing all the housework, but to be honest they do not get the respect they deserve from us. Through this game today we have understood that all household work is really hard. From now on we will help our wives with everything."

Shukhla Mukherjee, manager of Jago Nari's WLiE project, said: "The main aim of this contest is to break down the division of work between men and women, to see women's work with dignity and to ensure men's equal share in household work, as well as to establish equality between men and women in society. That is why the spice-grinding contest for men was organised."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.