The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has reported that 486 women and girls have been murdered in the country in the last 11 months, demonstrating a horrifying increase in violence against women.
The organisation stated it at a press conference held at the National Press Club in the capital on Tuesday.
The press conference was arranged marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25-December 10) and Human Rights Day. The theme for this year was: "Ensuring equality in family law, preventing violence against women."
The press conference was chaired by the organization's president Dr Fauzia Moslem, while Legal Aid secretary Rekha Saha presented a report.
Analysing the reports from 16 national dailies compiled by the Central Legal Aid Sub-Council of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, it was told at the press conference that 2,362 women were subjected to repression and torture from January to November this year.
Among them, 1,036 were girls. During the period, 486 women and girls were killed.
The report highlighted that violence against women is on the rise, affecting not only individuals but also families, society, and future generations.
Quoting the UN Women data, Rekha Saha said that a woman or girl was killed by their respective family member or intimate partner worldwide every 10 minutes in 2023.
Such incidents have created obstruction to the progress of women's rights and made gender-based discrimination more real. Fauzia Moslem said domestic violence against women remains a primary form of abuse.
She attributed this to the lack of rights in personal life of women due to the inequalities in family laws.
The organization made 25 recommendations to curtail violence against women, including ensuring equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters, eliminating harmful cultural practices against women, and guaranteeing justice for rape survivors.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu and other senior members of were also present at the press conference.
