Women like her are ostracized in many rural villages in Bangladesh, where they are viewed as the cause of their partner’s misfortune. 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. “It would mar my family’s well-being and could bring bad luck,” the 31-year-old honey hunter said. However, Ledars Bangladesh head Mohon Kumar Mondal said that the mistreatment of “tiger widows” was widespread in highly conservative communities, which often held “centuries-old” prejudices. “We had to do it [help Khatun] confidentially or else the village society would have ostracized us as well,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times February 18, 2020 16:07 UTC