Humanrights Monitoring Report February 2011

Murder: In February, a total number of 150 people were killed for various reasons such as terrorist attacks, robbery, clashes for land and properties, dowry, rape, eve teasing, etc. Among these victims, 97 were men, 38 were women and 15 were children.

Violence against women:

Dowry: In February, 11 women and 1 child were killed and 7 women were severely tortured for dowry in 18 different incidents. The deceased are Shantana Rani (20, Rangpur), Naima (21), Nazma Begum (22) and her 1 and half months old son Raju, Sabina from Rajshahi, Malina Begum (25, Faridpur), Kohinur Begum (25, Rajshahi), Sabina Iasmin from Sherpur, Sekela Begum (23, Narail), Parul Begum (22, Barishal), Selina Begum (27, Comilla) and Hamida Begum from Jamalpur.

Rape: In February, 19 women were raped and, among them, 1 was killed. The deceased is Rasheda from Sherpur. The other victims are from Narayanganj, Dhaka, Rajshahi, Nilphamari, Jaypurhat, Rupganj, Faridpur, Noakhali, Narail, Natore, Gazipur, Kishorgonj, Brahmanbaria and Lakshmipur.

Eve Teasing: In February, 34 incidents of Eve Teasing occurred in the whole country.

Suicide: In February, total 32p eople committed suicide for various reasons such as mental pressure, eve teasing, rape, dowry and family feuds. Among them 25 were women and 7 were men. The places where these incidents occurred are Dhaka, Kishorgonj, Tangail, Patuakhali, Gazipur, Barisal, Rajshahi, Shariatpur, Chapainababganj, Sylhet, Bogra, Khulna and Kushtia. Bifola Akhter (13, Kishorgonj), Shirafina Maradi (14, Rajshahi), Rikta Khatun (14, Khulna), Jannatunnesa shima (18, Rajshahi) and Ismat Ara (13, Kurigram)  committed suicide as a result of  rape, Ayesha Khatun ((35), Sharmin Sultana Iti (class 8, Gazipur) for Eve Teasing and Asma Begum (25, Barishal) committed suicide due to pressure for dowry.

Violence against the journalists: In February, there were attacks on 4 journalists in different 4 incidents. In Genda at Savar, Dhaka, the special correspondent of Ekushey TV Harun Ur Rashid was assaulted physically by the police as he protested the illegal activities of a local police officer.  The News Editor of Desh TV, Giash Ahmed approached a Constable and wanted to know the cause of an unusually long traffic signal at Sonargaon Crossing, but an argument broke out and Giash Ahmed was taken to the Police Station. On the other hand, the Narayanganj Staff Reporter Billal Hossain Robin was physically assaulted by some terrorists for publishing a report. Beside this, a case has been filed in the court against Jahangir Hossain, the Rajbari District Correspondent of The Daily Kaler Kantha for publishing a report.