Violence against women saw alarming rise in 2018

The number of rapes, sexual assaults and incidents of violence against women were higher in 2018 than the previous year, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) said yesterday.

In 2018, incidents of sexual abuse in the country saw an alarming rise, in which 3,918 women and girls became victims, BMP said in a press statement.

A total of 942 women were raped across the country, among which 182 were gang-raped, 63 were killed after rape and 71 were abused sexually, said the statement, citing media reports. Also, 19 women were victims of acid attacks, which saw death of three, according to the report.

At least 212 women became victims of violence over dowry, among which 102 were killed and 10 committed suicide.

As per the statement, 441 women were victims of domestic violence, including 270 being killed by in-laws and 34 being killed by own family members, while 57 committed suicide.

Besides, 12 women became victims of fatwa, 87 house helps were tortured, 58 of whom died and four were compelled to commit suicide.

The number of incidents of abduction was 145, while 41 women and children were trafficked; of them 15 were sold into forced prostitution, it added.

Some 193 incidents related to child marriage took place in the last year, the report found. Among those, as many as 52 child marriages took place, while 141 attempts were resisted.