Govt, opposition efforts can end problem

Participants at a roundtable, “Immediately prevent violence against women”, organised by the daily Prothom Alo at its office in the capital yesterday. Photo: STAR

Legal loopholes and a patriarchal mindset are the reasons behind the rise, at an alarming rate, of incidents of violence against women and of perpetrators getting away with it, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.
A thorough research and combined initiatives of both the government and opposition parties can bring such violence to an end, they said. The roundtable, “Immediately prevent violence against women”, was organised by the daily Prothom Alo at its office in the capital.
Meher Afroz Chumki, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said the government solely could not solve the problem as it comprises powerful variable aspects -- education, social mindset, local government bodies, civil society and police.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Chairperson Ayesha Khanam emphasised inclusion of sex education in the national education curriculum.
High profile political figures, through government initiatives, should regularly give statements on television on the consequences of committing the crime, said Prof Maleka Begum of sociology and gender studies in Central Women's University.
The speakers also blamed effects of satellite culture, insensitive contents of radio and television programmes and ads, drop of call rates after midnight, drug abuse and availability of acid, among others, as causes of the crime.
Parliamentarian and media personality Asaduzzaman Noor said, “Many people talk about women's rights in public but practice the opposite behaviour with women in their families.”
Rasheda K Chowdhury, former adviser to a caretaker government, said, “Gender biased words like opoya (ill-fated) and kolonkini (defamed) highly influence children's psychology. Such words should be removed from textbooks.”
Former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal and Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman also joined the the roundtable.