A failure of the state and society: Naripokkho

Despite public and private initiatives, violence against women continues to escalate, which indicates a failure of the state and society, said activists of Naripokkho, a women’s rights platform.

Terming the involvement of ruling party men with such violence “deeply concerning”, the platform, in a campaign yesterday in front of Dhaka City College, also urged all to step up efforts against such violence.

They organised the event as part of their campaign titled “Drive against Violence on Women 2019”.

Naripokkho has been staging the event fortnightly in the city since September last year.

Members of the platform staged a sit-in, gave away leaflets, shouted slogans, and played protest songs at the spot as part of the campaign.

Two members of the organisation read out a leaflet which contains the current scenario of violence against women across the country.

Compiling data from different newspapers, they said that around 1,115 women have been raped between January and October 2019.

Of them, 57 were killed after rape while eight died by suicide.

Moreover, three women and two men were killed for protesting rape.

Leaders and activists of the ruling party are directly or indirectly involved with many incidents, which is very concerning… absence of rule of law and justice, unethical influence of ruling party men, and corruption in the administration have left the country in this situation, they said.

In this context, they urged people from all walks, the parliament, the judiciary, and the government to stand strong against violence on women.

They demanded to form and activate anti-sexual harassment cell in all educational institutes and workplaces, examining implementation of related acts, and taking steps accordingly.