Women's Day Special
Rights Monitor
Report on violence against women in Bangladesh in 2006
In the last five year two month women were the most vulnerable groups in Bangladesh that witnessed an alarming increase in human rights violations. From 1 January 2001 to 28 February 2006 a sum of 5217 women and children were raped across the country. Among them 614women were killed after raped and 61 women committed suicide after being violated. Besides, a total of 1575 women found to be victimized of dowry related violence. Of them 1009 women were killed, 420 were brutally tortured, 55 found acid burns, 84 committed suicide and 7 were divorced due to dowry. Odhikar, a human rights organization, prepared a press release on violence against women on the occasion of International Women Day 2006 on the basis of reports published in 14 National leading dailies and Odhikar's own network.
According to Odhikar report regarding violence against women, in the last two-month 115 women were raped and 21 were killed after rape. Odhikar reports that a total of 907 women and children were raped in 2005. Among them, 126 were killed after rape, 14 allegedly committed suicide after the rape. In the year 2004, a total of 886 women were raped. Among them 116 killed after the raped and 13 women committed suicide due to rape. Similarly, 1336 women were raped in 2003. Among them 142 were killed after rape and 17 committed suicide after being violated. Meanwhile 1350 women were raped in 2002. Of them 114 were killed after rape and 12 women took their life after being raped. In the year 2001 623 women were raped. Among them 95 were killed and 3 committed suicide.
Odhikar's report on women's human rights situation in the country also express that a total of 1073 women were victimized of acid violence. Among them 113 women in 2005, 222 women in 2004, 212 in 2003, 318 in 2002 and 192 women were victimized of acid in 2001 respectively. Another 16 were attacked with in the month of January-February 2006. Furthermore, a total of 1575 women were victimized due to dowry related matters during the same period. Among them, 1009 were brutally killed, 420 tortured, 55 victimized by acid violence, 7 women was divorced and 84 committed suicide due to unremitting dowry demands.
In 2005, 227 were killed, 123 were heartlessly tortured, 15 victimized by acid violence and 19 women committed suicide due to constant dowry demands. In the year 2004, 165 women were killed, 77 tortured, 13 women acid burnt, one was divorced and 11 committed suicide due to dowry. Similarly 261 women were killed, 85 were tortured, 1 was divorced and 23 women committed suicide due to dowry related violence in 2003. On the other hand, 191 women were killed, 90 tortured, 14 women acid burnt, one was divorced and 28 committed suicide due to dowry related violence. In the year 2001, 160 women were killed, 31 tortured, 3 women were given divorce and 3 were committed suicide due to constant dowry demands.
Source: Odhikar.
