Violence
Nationwide youth campaign starts 'challenging fear of violence'
A countrywide youth campaign began Monday ahead of International Women's Day 2022 as fear of violence prevents women, especially girls, from achieving their potential.
International development organisation Plan International Bangladesh and national development organisation Jaago Foundation jointly launched the campaign "Challenging Fear of Violence" to bring the youths of the country together.
The campaign was launched in the capital.
Kashfia Feroz, director of girls' rights, Shemonty Monjari, campaign manager of Plan International Bangladesh; Korvi Rakshand, founder of Jaago, and Esha Farooque, assistant director of operations, were present.
Kashfia said: "We started collecting evidence-based information from different ends of the country and were commissioned to analyse policy and budget for further advocacy initiatives," said Kashfia.
Among 12,000 survey participants, 81.6 percent of females experienced harassment in public places.
And 86.8 percent of women and girls said they were victims of harassment in their households.
Around 74 percent of female students said they faced verbal abuse from their teachers and senior students.
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Some 57 percent of participants said they were harassed online and 56 percent mentioned sexual harassment at their workplaces.
Fear of violence came up very strongly from their end, limiting their potential and restricting their mobility, Kashfia said.
Also, the study revealed that many parents feel discouraged to send their daughters to educational institutions or let them participate in sports or picnics and even for private tuitions.
Korvi said, "We want a society in which every place is a safe space for people of all genders."
UP polls-violence leaves 29 dead in Jan alone: MSF
At least 29 people were killed and over 500 injured in January last during clashes centering the fifth and sixth phases of Union Parishad elections across the country.
Manabadhikar Shangskriti Foundation (MSF) revealed the data after collecting information about 109 reported incidents of election-linked violence from different media.
Read: Voting underway for 6th phase of UP polls
According to the MSF, the violence during the Upazila and Union Parishad elections this year broke all the previous records.
Of the deceased, one was shot dead by his rival group while four others by members of law enforcement agencies, the MSF report says.
The highest number of seven people died in Bagura district while five in Jhenidah, three in Chandpur and two in Narsingdi districts.
On January 5, police fired 25 gunshots as the supporters of a chairman candidate vandalised a centre and attacked law enforcers, administrative officers over the announcement of resuts in Gabtoli upazila, Bagura.
Four people, including a woman, died during the clash while five others suffered serious wounds, said the report.
A 50-year-old woman, Sumela Khatun, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at a voting centre in Doulatpur upazila of Manikganj during a chase and counter-chase between the supporters of two member candidates on the same day.
Read:Post-polls violence: 2 killed, 20 injured in Narsingdi
On January 12, a 30-year-old man, Anwarul Islam, was killed reportedly by a newly elected UP member over the election at Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat.
According to the MSF findings, the deaths from election-related violence stood at 92 and the number of injured were more than 4,000 as of December 31, 2021.
Polls violence: 12 injured in attack by AL in Cumilla
At least 12 persons were injured in an attack reportedly by supporters of ruling Awami League candidate for the upcoming union parishad election at Khoskandi area of Damoti union on Friday.
The injured are-Aiyub Ali, Sharif, Shafiqul Islam, Shanto, Zillur Rahman, Billal, Imran, Mehedi, Rahman, Tofazzol, Rakib Munshi and Khokon.
All the injured persons are now undergoing treatment at Upazila Health Complex, except critically injured Aiyub Ali, who was referred to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.
According to eye-witnesses, AL backed chairman candidate Jasim Uddin’s brother Shah Poran and his supporters carried out the attack on supporters of independent candidate Mohiuddin Mithu, when they were preparing for an election rally in the evening.
Read: Govt to widen social safety coverage to protect poor from pandemic loss
Jasim Uddin however denied the allegations, saying that he knew nothing about the attack.
Mithu told UNB that supporters of AL candidate Jasim Uddin were threatening his supporters after submission of nomination papers.
"They even threatened to kill my supporters if they voted for me and not the AL candidate," he added.
The OC of Debidar police station Arifur Rahman confirmed the incident of violence took place, but said legal action will only be taken upon receiving a written complaint.
UP polls violence: another dies in Chandpur
A person who was seriously injured during the election violence in Chandpur's Haimchar Upazila Algi Uttar union, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Md Mizan Gazi, 55, son of Shahadat Gazi of the union.
He died at around 10 am, said the resident doctor of Chandpur Sadar Hospital Dr Rubel.
Mizan was injured on January 5 when the supporters of two rival groups clashed during the polls outside Mahila Dakhil Madrasa Center in Jamila area of the union.
READ: Violence mars UP polls again: 8 killed in Chattogram, Bogura, Chandpur
On January 5, two people were killed in separate incidents at Kachua and Haimchar upazila in violence during the UP elections.
One of the deceased, identified as Sharif Hossain, 18, was stabbed dead during the clash outside Hatirbandh Kendra at Sachar Union of Kachua Upazila, said additional superintendent of police Sudip Roy.
Another deceased identified as Mir Hossain (42), a cement-rod trader of Shariyatpur’s Palang was killed at Ishanbala Ward-6 of Nilkamal Union in Haimchar Upazila, said Mahbubur Rahman Mollah, officer-in-charge (OC) of Haimchar Police Station.
READ: Teen killed as bike ride turns fatal for 3 minors in Chandpur
In the fifth phase, Union Parishad elections took place in 29 unions of Chandpur where 162 candidates contested the polls for the post of chairman and 1,412 for the posts of general members and reserved members.
Chapainawabganj poll violence: 385 sued over attack on police
Police on Friday sued 385 people over attacking police by supporters of defeated candidates of UP election in Chapainawabganj Sadar a day earlier.
The case was filed at Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station on Friday noon.
Mojaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station, said 135 named and 250 unnamed people have been made accused in the case.
So far, 15 people were arrested in this connection and presented before the court, said the OC.
READ: Post UP-polls violence: 10 injured in Khajra union in Satkhira
On Thursday, Shariat Ali was elected as a UP member in Ward No. 8 of Jhilim Union in Sadar Upazila of the district in the 5th phase of UP election.
Unable to accept defeat, former UP member Monirul Islam Moni and other candidate Abdul Quddus Seratal along with hundreds of their supporters went to attack newly elected member Shariat Ali's house on Thursday afternoon.
On information, police rushed to the spot when the supporters attacked the police as they tried to control the situation.
READ: Violence mars UP polls again: 8 killed in Chattogram, Bogura, Chandpur
Five policemen were injured in the attack. Three of them were admitted to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.
Later, additional police were deployed to bring the situation under control.
Mohila Parishad: 3703 women, girls suffered violence in 2021
A total of 3703 women and girls were subjected to different forms of violence including rape and murder in 2021, according to a report of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad.
Some 1235 females were raped in the last year. Of them 1028 females including 629 girls were raped, 179 females including 62 girls were gang raped and 31 females including 22 girls were killed after rape, said the report published on Monday.
Bangladesh Mohila Parishad President Dr Fouzia Moslem and its General Secretary Maleka Banu presented the report at a press briefing in the city.
Also read: Women suffer more violence from jobless men staying home: Webinar
The organisation compiled the statistics based on the reports published in13 newspapers.
According to the report, 155 females including 93 girls were subjected to rape attempt while 33 females including 14 girls were subjected to sexual assault while 95 females including 62 girl children faced sexual harassment.
Besides, acid attacks were carried out on 22 women including five girls while four of them succumbed to burn injuries.
The report also said that 23 females including three girl children were subjected to burn injuries and of them ten succumbed to their injuries.
Meanwhile, 180 females including 153 girl children were victims of abduction while eleven others were subjected to such attempts.
Forty-two females including six girl children were trafficked while 46 women, including 32 girl children were harassed at different times.
The report also said 138 females including one girl child were subjected to physical torture for dowry and of them 45 were killed for dowry.
As many as 208 females including 58 girl children suffered physical torture while 444 females including 114 girl children were killed for various reasons.
Also read: UN voices "serious concerns" over increasing violence against women
Eighty-seven women, including 19 children were subjected to murder attempt while 427 females including 131 girl children died mysteriously, said the report.
A total of 121 female students including 43 girl children committed suicide while eleven attempted to commit suicide.
There were incidents of 327 child marriages across the country while 63 females including 23 girl children were victims of cybercrime.
There were 260 incidents of child marriages in Kishoreganj district alone while 1242 incidents of child marriage were reported from Tangail in the past one and half year.
UP-polls violence: 1 succumbs to injuries in Sirajganj, 1 arrested
A man succumbed on Monday to injuries he sustained during a clash between supporters of two rival member candidates in the Khash Kaulia Union Parishad election in Chowhali upazila under Sirajganj district.
The deceased was identified as Zakir Hossain Molla,50, brother of Khash Kaulia Union Parishad Ward-8 member candidate Jahangir Molla.
He died around 2 pm at a private hospital in Dhaka a day after he was seriously injured, said Md Rafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Chouhali police station.
READ: Shocker from Sirajganj: In-laws ‘shave housewife’s hair, eyebrows’
During the election on Sunday some 10 people were injured including Zakir when supporters of Jahangir Molla and Abdul Hakim locked in a clash at Kukri centre, said the OC.
Zakir was transferred to Dhaka in a critical condition, he said.
READ: Sirajganj to get world’s first 'digital dustbin'
Rival candidate Abdul Hakim was arrested from his house around 3pm on Monday over the death and the process of filing a case is underway, said the OC.
After suicide bombing, Congo officials fear more attacks
Authorities in eastern Congo announced an evening curfew and new security checkpoints Sunday, fearing more violence after a suicide bomber killed five people in the first attack of its kind in the region.
Beni Mayor Narcisse Muteba, a police colonel, warned hotels, churches and bars in the town of Beni that they needed to add security guards with metal detectors because “terrorists” could strike again.
“We are asking people to be vigilant and to avoid public places during this festive period," Muteba told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Read: Suicide bomber attacks bar in eastern Congo, killing 6
Brig. Gen. Constant Ndima, the military governor of North Kivu province, said there will be a 7 p.m. curfew, as well as more road checkpoints.
Officials initially said the death toll was six plus the suicide bomber, but they revised that figure a day later to five victims. Thirteen others remained hospitalized after the blast at the entrance to the Inbox restaurant on Christmas Day.
Saturday's bloodshed dramatically deepened fears that Islamic extremism has taken hold in Beni. The town already has suffered years of attacks by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, who trace their origins to neighboring Uganda.
Officials have blamed the latest attack on those rebels, whose exact links to international extremist groups have been murky. The Islamic State's Central Africa Province has claimed responsibility for attacks blamed on ADF, but it is unknown what role exactly the larger organization may have played in organizing and financing the attacks.
There have been worrying signs that religious extremism was escalating around Beni: Two local imams were killed earlier this year within weeks of each other, one of whom had spoken out against the ADF.
Then in June, the Islamic State group’s Central Africa Province claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber who blew himself up near a bar in Beni without harming others. Another explosion that same day at a Catholic church wounded two people.
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There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, in which authorities say the bomber ultimately was stopped from entering the crowded restaurant. After the blast near the entrance, blood stained the pavement and mangled chairs lay strewn near the entrance.
Rachel Magali, who had been at the restaurant with her sister-in-law and several others, described hearing a loud noise and then people starting to cry.
“We rushed to the exit where I saw people lying down," she told the AP. "There were green plastic chairs scattered everywhere and I also saw heads and arms no longer attached. It was really horrible.”
Women suffer more violence from jobless men staying home: Webinar
Men’s long stay at home for lack of employment is one of the reasons why violence against women is increasing in Bangladesh, a webinar was told on Monday.
Speakers at the webinar identified the other factors for which women are subjected to violence as decline of income, limited judicial activities and less willpower to file case.
The webinar on `Analysis of Violence Against Women and Action by JNNPF’ was organised by Jatio Nari Nirjatan Protirodh Forum (JNNPF) in association with ActionAid Bangladesh.
The speakers said incidents of torture, oppression and rape of women and children are on the rise in the country. Violence against women and children has been alarming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the webinar, JNNPF, a platform of 26 human rights organisations, claimed that 609 cases of domestic violence, 42 cases of rape, 239 cases of torture for dowry and 112 cases of child marriage were reported from 20 districts of the country during January to October this year, according to a press release.
Read: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16-day activism campaign on child marriage, gender-based violence
In addition, a total of 1379 complaints were registered including 72 polygamous marriages, 73 divorces, 1 murder and 5 suicides, 132 marital disorder and 94 other incidents.
However, 863 cases have been settled and 422 cases are pending out of 1369 cases.
The JNNPF called for preventing and alleviating violence against women and ensure the safety of women by forming committees at all levels starting from the union level.
In addition to building a resistance movement, they called for a positive role of the administration, speedy judicial action, and the formation of a larger national coalition on the issue of prevention of violence against women and children.
Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir said that working together can prevent all forms of violence including violence against women.
Read: WHO study finds 1 in 3 women face physical, sexual violence
JNNPF President Mamtaz Ara Begum, General Secretary Mahmuda Begum, Executive Director of RASIN Asma Akter Mukta, Executive Director of Manab Unnayan Kendra Ashaduzzaman Selim and Manager of Swabalambi Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (SSUS) Kuhinur Begum shared the data and experiences in a webinar.
It was conducted by Manager (Women Rights and Gender Equity) of ActionAid Bangladesh Morium Nesa.
UP Polls: 3 shot dead during clash in Thakurgaon
Three people were killed in firing reportedly by members of a law enforcement agency during a clash over elections at Khangaon union in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district on Sunday night and early Monday.
Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Thakurgaon, said, “As officials of the local administration were confined to a polling centre, a BGB team went there to rescue them. They had to open fire at one point of time to bring the situation under control. The three might have died in BGB firing. However, we need further investigation to be sure about it.”
Read: Poll violence claims another life; injured Narsingdi man dies in Dhaka
Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station, said one of the three died on the spot while two others succumbed to their wounds at Sadar Hospital.
Two of the injured are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital.
The deceased were identified as Aditya, 18, Mojaharul Islam, 35, and Hossain, 26.
Police said Nuruzzaman, an independent candidate, and his supporters confined the officials of the administration, including the presiding officer, to Ghidob Primary School when the vote count ended around 8pm.
When Haripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdul Karim reached the spot along with a BGB team, the candidate’s supporters attacked them and vandalized the vehicle.
After nearly two hours, BGB men opened fire to bring the situation under control, leaving one dead on spot and four others injured, said the OC.
The injured were sent to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital where two others succumbed to their injuries.
With the death toll in Thakurgaon, at least eight people were killed and over 100 others injured as the 3rd phase of union parishad (UP) elections ended on Sunday afternoon amid sporadic violence and irregularities.
Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Jashore and Khulna.
Read: Voting begins in 3rd phase UP polls; 2 killed in pre-dawn attacks
The first and second phases of UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities.
At least six people were killed and over 100 others injured in the 2nd phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on November 11.
Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla and Chattogram.
Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase of union parishad election that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.