�653 women tortured in 8 months�

A total of 653 women have become victims of torture both mentally and physically in Chittagong city from January to August this year.
A non-government organisation named Sexual Harassment Elimination Network Chittagong (SHENC) which is working to reduce all forms of violence against children and women unveiled the information at a press briefing held at a city hotel yesterday.
The SHENC gathered the data from January to August, 2015 from one-stop crisis centre, victim support centre and legal aid centre of Chittagong.
At the same time, a total of 395 cases were filed with three women and children repression prevention tribunals of Chittagong for repression and torture on women, said the SHENC.
“We came up with the figures from collecting information from Chittagong Medical College Hospital’s (CMCH) One-Stop crisis centre, Victim Support centre of Double Mooring Police Station and government Legal Aid centres of Chittagong,” said Jesmin Sultana Paru, convener of the SHENC.
“The rate of repression on women is higher than the existing statistics. In every incident of sexual abuse, victim does not go to the police station to lodge any complaint. As a result, the real figure does not come out in the statistics,” added Paru.
“Due to sheer negligence of law enforcement agencies and the influence of the high-ups of the society, the accused managed to get away,” alleged Paru. “Repression on women is taking place in home and outside of the home. Many times, the victim women kept the incidents secret fearing social stigma. Only 10 percent of the rate of repression on women is being revealed,” added Paru. “The law enforcement agencies should play more effective and active role in the prevention of sexual harassment,” urged Paru.
Regarding the incidents of repression on women, she urged to file case quickly and to take effective steps to dispose such case quickly. She also urged to form a committee in all localities involving people from all walks of life to prevent sexual harassment.  She also laid importance on awareness raising campaign to discourage women repression by leaders of religious institutions.
At the press briefing, Sharif Chowhan, Advocate Akhter Kabir, Sunil Dhar, Mafuza Akhter, Jubaidur Rashid, Nasrin Sultana Khanam, Kamrun Nahar, Sadia Tajnin, Nargis Chowdhury, Chandan Barua and Mehedi Hasan were present, among others.

�653 women tortured in 8 months�

A total of 653 women have become victims of torture both mentally and physically in Chittagong city from January to August this year. A non-government organisation named Sexual Harassment Elimination Network Chittagong (SHENC) which is working to reduce all forms of violence against children and women unveiled the information at a press briefing held at a city hotel yesterday. The SHENC gathered the data from January to August, 2015 from one-stop crisis centre, victim support centre and legal aid centre of Chittagong. At the same time, a total of 395 cases were filed with three women and children repression prevention tribunals of Chittagong for repression and torture on women, said the SHENC. We came up with the figures from collecting information from Chittagong Medical College Hospitals (CMCH) One-Stop crisis centre, Victim Support centre of Double Mooring Police Station and government Legal Aid centres of Chittagong, said Jesmin Sultana Paru, convener of the SHENC. The rate of repression on women is higher than the existing statistics. In every incident of sexual abuse, victim does not go to the police station to lodge any complaint. As a result, the real figure does not come out in the statistics, added Paru. Due to sheer negligence of law enforcement agencies and the influence of the high-ups of the society, the accused managed to get away, alleged Paru. Repression on women is taking place in home and outside of the home. Many times, the victim women kept the incidents secret fearing social stigma. Only 10 percent of the rate of repression on women is being revealed, added Paru. The law enforcement agencies should play more effective and active role in the prevention of sexual harassment, urged Paru. Regarding the incidents of repression on women, she urged to file case quickly and to take effective steps to dispose such case quickly. She also urged to form a committee in all localities involving people from all walks of life to prevent sexual harassment. She also laid importance on awareness raising campaign to discourage women repression by leaders of religious institutions. At the press briefing, Sharif Chowhan, Advocate Akhter Kabir, Sunil Dhar, Mafuza Akhter, Jubaidur Rashid, Nasrin Sultana Khanam, Kamrun Nahar, Sadia Tajnin, Nargis Chowdhury, Chandan Barua and Mehedi Hasan were present, among others.