About 15,000 cases were filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act last year across the country, Home Minister Shahara Khatun said yesterday.
The cases involving violence against women and children account for ten percent of the total cases, she said as the chief guest at a discussion on 'Responsibilities of the government and the civil society for prevention of repression of women' at Biam auditorium in the city.
The minister also urged men to come forward to prevent violence against women.
"If we can launch a movement with proper participation of men and women, we can succeed in preventing violence against women," she said.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the discussion to mark the International Women Repression Prevention Fortnight that began on November 25 and the International Human Rights Day.
The theme of this fortnight is 'Unite to End Violence against Women'.
Replying to a question from reporters, Shahara Khatun said the government is fully prepared to combat national or international terrorism. "The government is ready to tackle any terrorist activities in the country," she said.
According to the monitoring cell at the Police Headquarters, at least 3,413 women were tortured over dowry, 83 women fell victim to torture, 2,336 were abducted, 2476 raped, 36 killed after rape, 33 injured after rape and 117 women killed during the period from January to October this year.
Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam said that although a political government is now in power and most conscious people are in the ministry and parliament, women continue to face violence.
Referring to a survey prepared on the basis of newspaper reports, she said at least 937 women were killed during the period from January to October this year.
Additional Inspector General of Police (training) Aminul Islam, Mahila Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu, assistant general secretary Advocate Masuda Rehana Begum, Sahana Kabir and Maksuda Akhter also spoke.
