Honour women, ensure justice for them

Violence against women could be reduced a lot if they are given due respect at home and in the society, said speakers at a views exchange meeting on "Access to justice to prevent violence against women" in Tangail town yesterday.

Accountability should be established at every level to solve the problems and the regulatory bodies concerned will have to perform their duties properly from their own positions in this regard, they said.

There is no alternative to increasing awareness and starting a social movement highlighting the duties of guardians, educational institutions and others concerned with the matter, they said.

They also expressed their deep concern over the increase in domestic violence and cyber crimes.

Rights organisations Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha, Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) and Unity for Social and Human Action (USHA) jointly organised the meeting with the help of UK Aid at the conference room of a local non-governmental organisation in the town.

Justice Naima Haider of the High Court Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court attended and addressed the meeting as the chief guest.

She urged all to see women with respect, and emphasised correct recording of incidents in the FIR in women repression cases. She also talked of abuse of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act in many cases. 

With Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam in the chair, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Special District and Sessions Judge in Tangail Waheduzzaman Shikder, Deputy Commissioner of Tangail Mahbub Hossain, Civil Surgeon Dr Syed Ibne Sayeed, Deputy Director of Tangail Medical College Hospital Dr Noor Mohammad, Additional Superintendent of Police in Tangail Sanjay Sarkar, Executive Director of Concerned Women for Family Development Mofabeja Khan and Secretary of Tangail district unit of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha Ataur Rahman Azad.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha Jahanara Begum, presented the welcome speech while Coordinator of USHA Taslima Akhter presented the keynote paper at the meeting.

Judges and magistrates of different courts in Tangail, lawyers, police officials, journalists and representatives from local non-governmental organisations attended the meeting.

Several victims of violence and their family members in Tangail also attended the meeting and shared their experiences and problems.