At least 811 women and girls were tortured in Rajshahi district in 2024, according to a report of rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra.
Of the victims, 28 were raped while seven of them allegedly committed suicide following the incident. Besides, five women and girls were killed after rape while attempts were made to rape six more women and children.
The report was revealed at a discussion organised by the rights organisation under its project titled 鈥楢GNEE - Awareness, Action, and Advocacy for Gender-equal and Safe Spaces for Women and Girls鈥�, at a restaurant in Rajshahi city on Monday.
Hasibul Hasan Pallab, district manager of the project of Ain O Salish Kendra, Rajshahi, said that they conducted the study based on reports published in various national dailies and online media and through 180 members of Community Social Organisations under the AGNEE project.
In association with BRAC and funded by the European Union, ASK is implementing the three-year long project in Rajshahi and Gazipur districts.
According to the report, a total of 58 women and girls faced sexual harassment and 18 were subjected to physical assault while three were killed for protesting against teasing.
Besides, 10 out of 299 women who experienced domestic abuse committed suicide while 18 were killed by their husbands or husband鈥檚 family members.
A total of 255 housewives were tortured because of dowries while eight of them were murdered, and two allegedly committed suicides.
In addition, 149 children were also tortured in the district in 2024 while 22 of them were killed.
The report also disclosed that a schoolgirl became a victim of acid attack for refusing to have a love affair with a boy.
Rashed Ibne Obayed Ripon, director of Paribartan, said that the violence against women and children has increased in the district due to a culture of impunity and lack of government鈥檚 initiative to make people aware.
Hasibul Hasan Pallab told the meeting that they had appointed counsels to 87 victims and were providing legal aid to 66 women and children in 2024 under the AGNEE project.
Among others, senior journalist and lawyer Mominul Islam Babu and ASK data management consultant Sabbir Islam addressed the event.
