Joining their hands together at the launching ceremony, six noted personalities, including Prof Anisuzzaman, film actor Illias Kanchan, President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kutubuddin Ahmed and Director General of the Islamic Foundation AZM Shamsul Alam, pledged that they will never overlook such violence or remain silent about it.

They also signed a declaration to work for prevention of violence.

The platform styled as 'Zero tolerance for the violence against women' will be used to a raise voice against the social menace.

The overall status of women in Bangladesh is low, characterised by a low literacy rate, fewer employment opportunities, widespread violence and a high maternal mortality rate along with little participation of women in politics, administration and decision-making process, said UNFPA Representative Suneeta Mukherjee.

She said about 14 percent of all maternal deaths in Bangladesh are attributed to violence against women, resulting from negligence of women.

Men and women are not each other's competitors. Rather, they compliment each other, Suneeta said, adding that fathers, husbands and brothers must come forward to protect women.

The UNFPA took the pioneering initiative in forming a group of well-informed men to speak for women and raise awareness about gender equity and violence among policy-makers, programme managers, community leaders and primary audiences.

Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram, former secretary, Dr Ubaidur Rob, country director, Population Council, Prof AKM Nurun Nabi, Dr Abu Jamil Faisel, country representative, Engenderhealth, Murteja Hossain Munshi, secretary, women and children affairs ministry, Akmal Hossain Azad, director general, Directorate of Family Planning, and Nurul Ameen, UNFPA assistant representative, attended the ceremony held at the National Press Club.