3,625 women fall prey to violence
Mahila Parishad statistics show a rising trend
Staff Correspondent
At least 3,625 women became victims of violence across the country between January and October this year. Among them, 1,192 were raped, 306 gang-raped and about 144 murdered after rape. This is the highest incidence of violence against women in recent times. Statistics show that 645 women committed suicide, 719 were murdered, 359 abducted, 230 acid-burnt and 135 trafficked. This was revealed yesterday at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parisad, marking the eve of International Fortnight Protesting Violence against Women from November 25 to December 10 and World Human Rights Day on December 10. Mahila Parisad compiled the figures of oppression from news items published in 10 national dailies including The Daily Star. "Original figure is much higher than this, as many cases of oppression didn't come up in the dailies," said Masuda Rehana Rosi, who read out the report. Speakers at the conference observed that women in Bangladesh live in an unequal society and violence against them is widespread indoors and outdoor. "Suicide tendency among young girls has increased alarmingly following harassment by the eve-teasers. But young girls should face the challenge and the culprits by protesting," said Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of Mahila Parisad. The Parishad will hold a series of programmes organising human chain, open discussion and exchange of opinions.
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