37 women murdered, 103 women and children raped, 47 attacked with acid

Crimes against women and children see rise due to negligence of the police and delay in trial process, leaders of Dinajpur unit of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad said at a press conference yesterday.

Marufa Begum, general secretary of Dinajpur district unit of the organisation, read out the keynote in presence of other women leaders including Kaniz Rahman, president of the organisation, at the conference held at Dinajpur Press Club.

As many as 103 women and children were raped and 37 women were murdered centring different disputes including those related to dowry in 13 upazilas of Dinajpur from January to October 15 this year, the keynote read.

"Forty-seven acid throwing cases were filed in different upazilas of Dinajpur from January 1 to October 15 this year and most of the victims were women. Besides, 372 women were tortured for dowry, 64 children were tortured, and 20 cases were filed for trafficking women to other countries.

"A total of 603 cases under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act were filed in the district and police filed final report in 103 of the cases.

"Recently a Class VIII girl of Parbatipur upazila was raped, but it was compromised, paying Tk 50,000 through so-called village arbitration. Despite agitation by locals, police is yet to file the charge sheet against the offenders for torturing Rehana Begum in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur," the keynote mentioned.

The speakers at the press conference expressed grave concern over repeated incidents of killing freethinkers and liberal minded persons including writers, researchers, publishers and journalists.

They urged ensuring punishment to the offenders through speedy trial process to check heinous crimes including those against women and children.

Bangladesh Mohila Parishad has taken up different programmes from November 1 to December 10, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.