A workshop in the city yesterday made the recommendation while disseminating the finds of a study titled, 'Assessing male psycho-social attitudes towards violence against women'. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted the study with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

Presenting the summary report of the study, Janet E Jackson, outgoing deputy representative of the UNFPA to Bangladesh, said Bangladesh ranked fourth in the world when it comes to violence against women.

"Sixty-five per cent of Bangladeshi males think it is justifiable to beat up their wives, 38 per cent have no clear idea what constitutes physical violence and 40 percent support keeping women socially dormant," observed Janet Jackson.

"In Bangladesh about 14 per cent of maternal death occur due to violence," said Suneeta Mukherjee, representative of the UNFPA to Bangladesh.

Speaking as chief guest, Women and Children Affairs Minister Khurshid Jahan Haque said 38 special courts have been established for quick disposal of cases related to women and children.

"Our ministry is also implementing a project titled 'Empowerment and Protection of Children and Women' to check sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children," said the minister.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by Ambassador of Netherlands to Bangladesh J.L. Ijzermans and actor Razzak, also the goodwill ambassador of the UNFPA.