A range of public awarness campaigns and similar programmes administered by the government and non-government organisations have been fruitless in checking violence against women in Khulna, according to a police report.
The local law enforcement committee at a meeting on April 23 unveiled the report, which compared the cases of violence against women in the district in the first three months of this year with those of the same period last year.
It was found that 119 women and children were the victims of rape, abduction, trafficking and repression during the period this year, while the number was 121 last year.
Of this year’s 119 victims, 22 were raped, 87 were repressed, and 10 were abducted and trafficked.
Other crimes reported in the period this year include theft, killing, drug abuse, robbery and mugging.
The report said a lot more incidents of violence against women are not reported to police because many want to avoid the public disgrace associated with being exposed to victims of such crimes.
More than 4,000 lawsuits are still pending at the Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal.
The tribunal’s Public Prosecutor, advocate Alokananda Das, said the administration should adopt a sterner policy to prevent violence against women.
“Police should detain those accused of raping or repressing women and should bring them to book once such crimes are reported. It is important that police take cognisance of these types of crimes,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.
According to the lawyer, police should not entertain nepotism or political backing when they deal with accusations of violence against women. “They must try to find out the truth regardless of the political affiliations or dominion of the accused.”
Alokananda also emphasised setting up another court in Khulna to expedite trials of crimes against women and children.
“There is only one court to deal with such a massive number of cases, which makes the task really difficult.”
Nargis Fatema, women affairs officer in Khulna, said there should be more wide-ranging campaigns in order to raise awareness about the issue.
She also said a couple should not seek legal assistance for resolving conflicts created between them over trivial matters.
“These are mostly family issues and should be settled based on discussions at home. That is of course a better way to deal with such rows.”
