During this time four women and girls were raped each day, increasing gang-rapes to 18 a month from 11 a month. BMP found that the number has also increased for individual rapes.
According to BMP, 436 women and girls were raped in the last four months, among whom 73 were gang-raped. Besides, 60 women and girls were subjected to attempted rape.
In a press release published on July 1, BMP said a total of 499 women and girls were raped between January and June. Among them, 64 victims were gang-raped.
The statistics showed some 2.63 women and girls were raped everyday during the first six months where the number increased to some 3.13 each day in the following four months.
Apart from the rape victims, Mahila Parishad says 119 women and girls were stalked in the last four months. The first six months of the year showed 125 stalking victims.
However, the death of women has decreased dramatically over the past four months going from 250 to 60. The number of kidnapped women and girls has also decreased from 95 to 25.
At least 18 housemaids died during the period; among them, 8 were killed and 10 were injured.
On September 30 in a report published by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) at least 512 incidents of rape were reported in the media since January. Of the victims, 26 were killed after rape. The number of gang-rapes was 152, of which 64 are aged 13-18 years.
Asked about the matter, sociologist Professor Monirul Islam Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the decline of social values, social bonds and social protection is behind such occurrences.
He said exemplary punishment for the offenders could somewhat control the situation. Social awareness is also required.
Monirul and National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Haque agree that the failure of securing justice for the victims led to the recurring incidents.
When a criminal has the opportunity of being freed without conviction, he finds the courage to repeat his crimes, he added. Local police should carry out their responsibilities as fast as possible and prosecutors should do their duty efficiently in these cases, Reazul said.
Exemplary punishment with a speedy trial that was previously executed for the Sylhet minor Ratan murder case is needed to bring the situation under control, he added.
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