Archaeological Place
Architectural Edifice
Beach and Island
Botanical Park
Culture and Festival
Forest and Jungle
Government
Heritage
Hill Tracts
Historical Place
Institute and Organization
Museum
Recreation and Sports
Religious
River and Lake
Sea Port
Shopping
Theme Park
Undefined
Waterfall
Zoo
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The city is known as the city of mosque, muslin and rickshaws. It has attracted travellers from far and near throu
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The city is known as the city of mosque, muslin and rickshaws. It has attracted travellers from far and near through ages. Dhaka as the capital of Bangladesh has grown into a busy city of about ten million people with an area of about 1353 sq. km. Having a happy blending of old and new architectural trends, Dhaka has been developing fast as a modern city and is throbbing with activities in all spheres of life. It is the center of industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and political activities for Bangladesh.
Several classrooms of Eden Girls’ College vandalised in intra-BCL clash
Several classrooms of Eden Girls’ College vandalised in intra-BCL clash
Several classrooms of Eden Girl’s College were vandalised in a factional clash of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Friday over establishing supremacy in the educational institution, police said.
Witnesses said the clash ensued between the supporters of BCL president of the college unit Jasmine Shamima Nijhum and the supporters of BCL vice-president Champa at about 11:00am, that created panic among the general students.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Campus sources said both the sides attacked each other in line with their alleged bids to establish dominance in admission trade.
Source: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of bangladesh
Read more:
Hayden turns big chase into cakewalk
Genetically modified food 'unfit for consumption'
Prime Bank chess begins in Natore
Nat'l vitamin A+ campaign on May 29
Cisco sees Bangladesh as fast-emerging IT mkt
Anti-govt Reds reject offer of talks with Thai PM
Messi leads Barcelona behind "ridiculous" form
UCB MD visits CSE
Chevron supports health camp at Bibiyana
Citi holds core banking training
Bangabandhu's birth anniversary observed
Farroque sued for Tk 1.0b for defaming Sajib Wazed
PCB bars national cricketers from foreign competitions
Fiji cyclone damage overwhelming
The new jute revolution
Several classrooms of Eden Girl’s College were vandalised in a factional clash of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Friday over establishing supremacy in the educational institution, police said.
Witnesses said the clash ensued between the supporters of BCL president of the college unit Jasmine Shamima Nijhum and the supporters of BCL vice-president Champa at about 11:00am, that created panic among the general students.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Campus sources said both the sides attacked each other in line with their alleged bids to establish dominance in admission trade.
Source: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of bangladesh
Read more:
Hayden turns big chase into cakewalk
Genetically modified food 'unfit for consumption'
Prime Bank chess begins in Natore
Nat'l vitamin A+ campaign on May 29
Cisco sees Bangladesh as fast-emerging IT mkt
Anti-govt Reds reject offer of talks with Thai PM
Messi leads Barcelona behind "ridiculous" form
UCB MD visits CSE
Chevron supports health camp at Bibiyana
Citi holds core banking training
Bangabandhu's birth anniversary observed
Farroque sued for Tk 1.0b for defaming Sajib Wazed
PCB bars national cricketers from foreign competitions
Fiji cyclone damage overwhelming
The new jute revolution
Eden Girls' College, Bangladesh
Eden Girls' College, Bangladesh
Eden Girls' College originated from a school for Brahmo Samaj girls. It was established by Shubha Sadhini Sabha (a philanthropic society) in Dhaka in 1873. Initially, the classes of the school were conducted in a private house at Farashganj. In 1878, the school was merged with another private girls' school to form the Dhaka Female School.
Frequent shifting placed the college in an uncertain situation and with an intention to merge with Quamrunnesa School and College, it shifted to the premises of the latter. In 1958, the college sections of these two institutions merged and formed Eden Girls' College. The new college was located at Bakshibazar. The school sections of the two colleges were merged to form Quamrunnesa School at Tikatuli.
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres (73,000 m2) of land at Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar.Named as Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Girls' College. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes.
The official name of the college has been changed to Eden University College since its affiliation with National University of Bangladesh.
[edit] Campus and facility
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres of land at [[Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes. The Bakshibazar section introduced independent degree classes, taking afterwards the name of Government Girls' College, and later, Badrunnesa College.
The Azimpur campus got its independent identity as Eden Girls' College in 1963. In 1972, the college had a large academic building with four wings and about one hundred rooms. Two four-storeyed buildings were added in the 1980s. Apart from these structures, the college has four hostel buildings, a two-storeyed library building, and the residence of the Principal within its boundaries. In 1999, Eden's library had 33,000 books and subscribed to about 1,200 journals and newsletters. Students of the college take part in Rover Scouting and national level sports competitions in the field of hockey, badminton, handball and athletics.[1]
Eden Girls' College originated from a school for Brahmo Samaj girls. It was established by Shubha Sadhini Sabha (a philanthropic society) in Dhaka in 1873. Initially, the classes of the school were conducted in a private house at Farashganj. In 1878, the school was merged with another private girls' school to form the Dhaka Female School.
Frequent shifting placed the college in an uncertain situation and with an intention to merge with Quamrunnesa School and College, it shifted to the premises of the latter. In 1958, the college sections of these two institutions merged and formed Eden Girls' College. The new college was located at Bakshibazar. The school sections of the two colleges were merged to form Quamrunnesa School at Tikatuli.
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres (73,000 m2) of land at Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar.Named as Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Girls' College. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes.
The official name of the college has been changed to Eden University College since its affiliation with National University of Bangladesh.
[edit] Campus and facility
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres of land at [[Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes. The Bakshibazar section introduced independent degree classes, taking afterwards the name of Government Girls' College, and later, Badrunnesa College.
The Azimpur campus got its independent identity as Eden Girls' College in 1963. In 1972, the college had a large academic building with four wings and about one hundred rooms. Two four-storeyed buildings were added in the 1980s. Apart from these structures, the college has four hostel buildings, a two-storeyed library building, and the residence of the Principal within its boundaries. In 1999, Eden's library had 33,000 books and subscribed to about 1,200 journals and newsletters. Students of the college take part in Rover Scouting and national level sports competitions in the field of hockey, badminton, handball and athletics.[1]
Eden Girls' College
Eden Girls' College
Eden Girls' College originated from a school for Brahmo girls established by Shubha Sadhini Sabha (a philanthropic society) in dhaka in 1873. Initially, the classes of the school were conducted in a private house at farashganj. In 1878, the school was merged with another private girls' school to form Dhaka Female School. The same year the school administration took the initiative to bring it under government management and proposed it be called Eden Girls' School after the Lieutenant Governor Sir Ashley Eden. Given its new status, it started functioning at a new location at Laxmibazar.
Eden was the first government girls' school in Bengal. In 1896-97, it had 130 students. It was recognised by the government as an 'excellent high school' of the provinces of Eastern Bengal and Assam. When the school building was damaged in the earthquake of 1897, it temporarily shifted to a private house. Sometime later, it was again shifted to one of the big business houses of Portuguese merchants at sadarghat. Intermediate classes (grades 11 and 12) were introduced in the school in 1926. Since then it got the name of Eden Girls' High School and Intermediate College. ak fazlul huq (Sher-e-Bangla) in his capacity as the education minister shifted the school to a new building on Abdul Ghani Road, later known as Eden Building. In 1947, the government decided to establish its Provincial Secretariat in this building and the college got a new temporary address in a part of curzon hall. Frequent shifting put the college into an uncertain situation and with an intention to merge with Quamrunnesa School and College, it shifted to the premises of the latter. In 1958, the college sections of these two institutions merged and formed Eden Girls' College. The new college was located at Bakshibazar. The school sections of the two colleges were merged to form Quamrunnesa School at Tikatuli.
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres of land at Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes. The Bakshibazar section introduced independent degree classes, taking afterwards the name of Government Girls' College, and later, Badrunnesa College.
The Azimpur campus got its independent identity as Eden Girls' College in 1963. In 1972, the college had a large academic building with four wings and about one hundred rooms. Two four-storeyed buildings were added in the 1980s. Apart from these structures, the college has four hostel buildings, a two-storeyed library building, and the residence of the Principal within its boundaries. In 1999, Eden's library had 33,000 books and subscribed to about 1,200 journals and newsletters. Students of the college take part in Rover Scouting and national level sports competitions in the field of hockey, badminton, handball and athletics
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Eden Girls' College, Bangladesh
Eden Girls' College, Bangladesh
Eden Girls' College originated from a school for Brahmo Samaj girls. It was established by Shubha Sadhini Sabha (a philanthropic society) in Dhaka in 1873. Initially, the classes of the school were conducted in a private house at Farashganj. In 1878, the school was merged with another private girls' school to form the Dhaka Female School.
Frequent shifting placed the college in an uncertain situation and with an intention to merge with Quamrunnesa School and College, it shifted to the premises of the latter. In 1958, the college sections of these two institutions merged and formed Eden Girls' College. The new college was located at Bakshibazar. The school sections of the two colleges were merged to form Quamrunnesa School at Tikatuli.
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres (73,000 m2) of land at Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar.Named as Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Girls' College. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes.
The official name of the college has been changed to Eden University College since its affiliation with National University of Bangladesh.
[edit] Campus and facility
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres of land at [[Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes. The Bakshibazar section introduced independent degree classes, taking afterwards the name of Government Girls' College, and later, Badrunnesa College.
The Azimpur campus got its independent identity as Eden Girls' College in 1963. In 1972, the college had a large academic building with four wings and about one hundred rooms. Two four-storeyed buildings were added in the 1980s. Apart from these structures, the college has four hostel buildings, a two-storeyed library building, and the residence of the Principal within its boundaries. In 1999, Eden's library had 33,000 books and subscribed to about 1,200 journals and newsletters. Students of the college take part in Rover Scouting and national level sports competitions in the field of hockey, badminton, handball and athletics.[
Eden Girls' College originated from a school for Brahmo Samaj girls. It was established by Shubha Sadhini Sabha (a philanthropic society) in Dhaka in 1873. Initially, the classes of the school were conducted in a private house at Farashganj. In 1878, the school was merged with another private girls' school to form the Dhaka Female School.
Frequent shifting placed the college in an uncertain situation and with an intention to merge with Quamrunnesa School and College, it shifted to the premises of the latter. In 1958, the college sections of these two institutions merged and formed Eden Girls' College. The new college was located at Bakshibazar. The school sections of the two colleges were merged to form Quamrunnesa School at Tikatuli.
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres (73,000 m2) of land at Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar.Named as Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Girls' College. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes.
The official name of the college has been changed to Eden University College since its affiliation with National University of Bangladesh.
[edit] Campus and facility
The current campus of the Eden College was developed in 1962 on 18 acres of land at [[Azimpur. Meanwhile, the college opened its degree programme in the new premises, but its intermediate section continued to stay at Bakshibazar. Subsequently, the Azimpur campus of Eden introduced its own intermediate classes. The Bakshibazar section introduced independent degree classes, taking afterwards the name of Government Girls' College, and later, Badrunnesa College.
The Azimpur campus got its independent identity as Eden Girls' College in 1963. In 1972, the college had a large academic building with four wings and about one hundred rooms. Two four-storeyed buildings were added in the 1980s. Apart from these structures, the college has four hostel buildings, a two-storeyed library building, and the residence of the Principal within its boundaries. In 1999, Eden's library had 33,000 books and subscribed to about 1,200 journals and newsletters. Students of the college take part in Rover Scouting and national level sports competitions in the field of hockey, badminton, handball and athletics.[
Women and Girls in Bangladesh
Women and Girls in Bangladesh
Girls are fed last, and less than their brothers. They are
more vulnerable to trafficking, sexual abuse, rape, acid
throwing and other forms of exploitation, including child
labour and child prostitution. Many are married by age
15 and their families must pay hefty dowries. Dowry
violence, such as murder and induced suicide, still
poses real threats to girls.
Girls are less likely to go to university and if they do go,
their dowry increases. Many are mothers by the time
they are 19. Their youth doubles the risk of fatal
complications in pregnancy. About 11,000 women die in
child birth every year. Almost half of all mothers are
malnourished. Women are likely to die before their
husbands.
There were 266 acid attacks reported recently over a one
year period, affecting 322 people1. Of these, 183 were
women, 76 were children under 18, and 63 were men. Marital, family and land disputes,
dowry, refusing sex and marriage were the main reasons for the attacks. Special, speedier
courts have been introduced to deal with acid attacks, which now carry the death penalty.
Dowry and dowry-related violence, such as acid attacks and murder, are still prevalent. A
recent report2 stated that 165 women were killed in one year, 77 had acid thrown on them,
one was divorced and 11 committed suicide over dowry demands. Dowry is officially
prohibited by law.
Girls aged 14 to 17 are more likely to commit suicide, and attempt suicide than boys. The
Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey reported more than 2200 children committed suicide in
one year – or about six per day. Of those six, four were female. Suicide is the biggest killer
among this age group3.
There are substantially more “undetermined” causes for female deaths by injury than for
male deaths. Boys are more likely to be victims of non-fatal violence4.
More than half of married men (55 per cent) feel justified in hitting or beating their wives. In a
health survey, nearly one in two said if their wife went out without telling them, it would justify
violence5.
1 UNICEF ‘Support to the Acid Survivors Foundation and the Kishori Abhijan Project in Bangladesh,’ June
2005.
2 Written statement of the Asian Legal Resource Centre on ‘Dowry related violence against women in
Bangladesh,’ distributed at the 61st session of the UNHCR in Geneva, April 5, 2005.
3 Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey Report on Children, UNICEF and Government of Bangladesh, 2005.
4 Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey Report on Children, UNICEF and Government of Bangladesh, 2005.
5 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training,
2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
About 55 per cent of married women lack the
freedom to go alone to a hospital or health
centre, or outside their village, town or city6.
Domestic violence remains a huge threat to
the security of adolescent girls. A UNICEF
report found that extreme physical abuse at
home that led to death accounted for more
than 70 per cent of the reported domestic
violence cases involving young housewives
and girls aged 13-187.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. More than two-thirds
of adolescent girls are married (of those aged 10-19)8. Nearly two in five girls aged 15-17 are
married, despite 18 being the legal age for marriage9.
More than half the adolescent girls (55 per cent) become mothers by the time they are 19,
and half of these mothers are acutely malnourished. The maternal mortality rate among
adolescent mothers is double the national rate10.
The national maternal mortality rate is one of the worst
in South Asia, at 320 deaths per 100,000 births11. This
means about 11,000 women die giving birth every year.
Most deliveries take place at home away from
emergency obstetric care and without a skilled
attendant.
Almost one in every seven maternal deaths is caused
by violence12.
Nearly half of all mothers are malnourished (45 per
cent)13. Anaemia is a severe public health problem for
pregnant women, which has been estimated at around
46 per cent. Almost one third of adolescent girls also
suffer from anaemia14.
Girls are typically fed less and last. Nationally, 4.8 per
cent of girls aged 12-59 months were malnourished
compared with 3.6 per cent of boys15.
Almost one in every two husbands decides their wife’s
health care (48 per cent). They often solely determine their children’s health care (32 per
cent)16.
6 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training,
2005.
7 UNICEF Bangladesh website: www.unicef.org/bangladesh
8 The State of World Population 2005, UNFPA.
9 UNICEF Bangladesh Country Programme document, 2005.
10 The State of World Population 2005, UNFPA.
11 SVRS 2002, BBS, according to BMMS 2001 by NIPORT, MMR is in the range of 320-400 per 100,000 live
births in UNICEF and BBS Progotir Pathey 2003.
12 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
13 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
14 Anaemia Prevalence Survey of Urban Bangladesh and Rural Chittagong Hill Tracts 2003, UNICEF.
15 UNICEF and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Progotir Pathey 2003.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Although the life expectancy gap between men and women has narrowed over the last
decade, Bangladesh continues to be one of the very few countries in the world where
women’s life expectancy is lower than that of men: with men at 68.6 years and women 68.0
years17.
Women are put at risk of HIV/AIDS by their partners’ sexual behaviours, despite the fact
Bangladesh’s overall prevalence rate is believed to be less than one per cent. Most married
men who have unprotected sex with sex workers continue to have sex with their wives.
Consistent condom use among sex workers in Bangladesh brothels is four per cent. For
street-based sex workers it is two per cent. Brothel workers have an average of 19 clients a
week, one of the highest turnover rates in Asia18.
Only 57 per cent of girls aged 10-19 years have heard of HIV/AIDS19.
The tertiary education ratio for female to
males is 36:64, below the MDG target of
50:5020. Early marriage is one of the main
causes of poor enrolment and high female
drop-out rates at the higher education levels.
Increasing tertiary opportunities for girls is
expected to boost the mean age of marriage.
Literacy rates in females aged 20 to 24 years
compared to their male peers is 55:71 (up
from 42:65). This is still well short of the MDG
target of 100:100. In 2000, it was estimated
only 43 per cent of women were literate21.
Net primary school enrolment rates have
achieved gender parity, at 81 per cent for
boys and 84 per cent for girls22.
Almost one in five paid agricultural labourers
is female (19 per cent). However, they only
earn 70 per cent of their male counterparts’
wages. In other sectors, women make up 22
per cent of paid employment. Their wages are
less than half the male wage. (Public servants
have equal wages)23
For one in eight women who earn a wage, someone else decides how that wage will be
spent. More than two in five decide with someone else, such as their husband24.
16 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training
2005.
17 UNICEF BCO PowerPoint 2007.
18 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
19 UNICEF and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Progotir Pathey 2003.
20 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
21 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
22 UNICEF Bangladesh Country Programme document, 2005.
23 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
24 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training
2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Female-headed households face serious poverty. Nearly one in every two female-headed
households falls below the poverty line, compared to less than two in five patriarchal
households.25
There were only six women in the previous 300-seat National Parliament of Bangladesh – or
two per cent of the representation26. Both leaders of the main political parties are women:
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of former
president Ziaur Rahman; and the Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina, daughter of
former president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In local government, about 25 per cent of the elected members are women27.
25 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
26 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
27 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Girls are fed last, and less than their brothers. They are
more vulnerable to trafficking, sexual abuse, rape, acid
throwing and other forms of exploitation, including child
labour and child prostitution. Many are married by age
15 and their families must pay hefty dowries. Dowry
violence, such as murder and induced suicide, still
poses real threats to girls.
Girls are less likely to go to university and if they do go,
their dowry increases. Many are mothers by the time
they are 19. Their youth doubles the risk of fatal
complications in pregnancy. About 11,000 women die in
child birth every year. Almost half of all mothers are
malnourished. Women are likely to die before their
husbands.
There were 266 acid attacks reported recently over a one
year period, affecting 322 people1. Of these, 183 were
women, 76 were children under 18, and 63 were men. Marital, family and land disputes,
dowry, refusing sex and marriage were the main reasons for the attacks. Special, speedier
courts have been introduced to deal with acid attacks, which now carry the death penalty.
Dowry and dowry-related violence, such as acid attacks and murder, are still prevalent. A
recent report2 stated that 165 women were killed in one year, 77 had acid thrown on them,
one was divorced and 11 committed suicide over dowry demands. Dowry is officially
prohibited by law.
Girls aged 14 to 17 are more likely to commit suicide, and attempt suicide than boys. The
Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey reported more than 2200 children committed suicide in
one year – or about six per day. Of those six, four were female. Suicide is the biggest killer
among this age group3.
There are substantially more “undetermined” causes for female deaths by injury than for
male deaths. Boys are more likely to be victims of non-fatal violence4.
More than half of married men (55 per cent) feel justified in hitting or beating their wives. In a
health survey, nearly one in two said if their wife went out without telling them, it would justify
violence5.
1 UNICEF ‘Support to the Acid Survivors Foundation and the Kishori Abhijan Project in Bangladesh,’ June
2005.
2 Written statement of the Asian Legal Resource Centre on ‘Dowry related violence against women in
Bangladesh,’ distributed at the 61st session of the UNHCR in Geneva, April 5, 2005.
3 Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey Report on Children, UNICEF and Government of Bangladesh, 2005.
4 Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey Report on Children, UNICEF and Government of Bangladesh, 2005.
5 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training,
2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
About 55 per cent of married women lack the
freedom to go alone to a hospital or health
centre, or outside their village, town or city6.
Domestic violence remains a huge threat to
the security of adolescent girls. A UNICEF
report found that extreme physical abuse at
home that led to death accounted for more
than 70 per cent of the reported domestic
violence cases involving young housewives
and girls aged 13-187.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. More than two-thirds
of adolescent girls are married (of those aged 10-19)8. Nearly two in five girls aged 15-17 are
married, despite 18 being the legal age for marriage9.
More than half the adolescent girls (55 per cent) become mothers by the time they are 19,
and half of these mothers are acutely malnourished. The maternal mortality rate among
adolescent mothers is double the national rate10.
The national maternal mortality rate is one of the worst
in South Asia, at 320 deaths per 100,000 births11. This
means about 11,000 women die giving birth every year.
Most deliveries take place at home away from
emergency obstetric care and without a skilled
attendant.
Almost one in every seven maternal deaths is caused
by violence12.
Nearly half of all mothers are malnourished (45 per
cent)13. Anaemia is a severe public health problem for
pregnant women, which has been estimated at around
46 per cent. Almost one third of adolescent girls also
suffer from anaemia14.
Girls are typically fed less and last. Nationally, 4.8 per
cent of girls aged 12-59 months were malnourished
compared with 3.6 per cent of boys15.
Almost one in every two husbands decides their wife’s
health care (48 per cent). They often solely determine their children’s health care (32 per
cent)16.
6 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training,
2005.
7 UNICEF Bangladesh website: www.unicef.org/bangladesh
8 The State of World Population 2005, UNFPA.
9 UNICEF Bangladesh Country Programme document, 2005.
10 The State of World Population 2005, UNFPA.
11 SVRS 2002, BBS, according to BMMS 2001 by NIPORT, MMR is in the range of 320-400 per 100,000 live
births in UNICEF and BBS Progotir Pathey 2003.
12 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
13 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
14 Anaemia Prevalence Survey of Urban Bangladesh and Rural Chittagong Hill Tracts 2003, UNICEF.
15 UNICEF and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Progotir Pathey 2003.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Although the life expectancy gap between men and women has narrowed over the last
decade, Bangladesh continues to be one of the very few countries in the world where
women’s life expectancy is lower than that of men: with men at 68.6 years and women 68.0
years17.
Women are put at risk of HIV/AIDS by their partners’ sexual behaviours, despite the fact
Bangladesh’s overall prevalence rate is believed to be less than one per cent. Most married
men who have unprotected sex with sex workers continue to have sex with their wives.
Consistent condom use among sex workers in Bangladesh brothels is four per cent. For
street-based sex workers it is two per cent. Brothel workers have an average of 19 clients a
week, one of the highest turnover rates in Asia18.
Only 57 per cent of girls aged 10-19 years have heard of HIV/AIDS19.
The tertiary education ratio for female to
males is 36:64, below the MDG target of
50:5020. Early marriage is one of the main
causes of poor enrolment and high female
drop-out rates at the higher education levels.
Increasing tertiary opportunities for girls is
expected to boost the mean age of marriage.
Literacy rates in females aged 20 to 24 years
compared to their male peers is 55:71 (up
from 42:65). This is still well short of the MDG
target of 100:100. In 2000, it was estimated
only 43 per cent of women were literate21.
Net primary school enrolment rates have
achieved gender parity, at 81 per cent for
boys and 84 per cent for girls22.
Almost one in five paid agricultural labourers
is female (19 per cent). However, they only
earn 70 per cent of their male counterparts’
wages. In other sectors, women make up 22
per cent of paid employment. Their wages are
less than half the male wage. (Public servants
have equal wages)23
For one in eight women who earn a wage, someone else decides how that wage will be
spent. More than two in five decide with someone else, such as their husband24.
16 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training
2005.
17 UNICEF BCO PowerPoint 2007.
18 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
19 UNICEF and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Progotir Pathey 2003.
20 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
21 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
22 UNICEF Bangladesh Country Programme document, 2005.
23 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
24 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004, National Institute of Population Research and Training
2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Female-headed households face serious poverty. Nearly one in every two female-headed
households falls below the poverty line, compared to less than two in five patriarchal
households.25
There were only six women in the previous 300-seat National Parliament of Bangladesh – or
two per cent of the representation26. Both leaders of the main political parties are women:
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of former
president Ziaur Rahman; and the Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina, daughter of
former president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In local government, about 25 per cent of the elected members are women27.
25 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
26 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
27 Government of Bangladesh and UN ‘Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report,’ 2005.
© Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
Sleeping ministers, rapes and atrocities in Bangladesh
Sleeping ministers, rapes and atrocities in Bangladesh
Although nine months have already passed since Awami League led 'Grand Alliance' government [a combination of leftists and Islamists] came in power through a questioned landslide victory, according to Dhaka's popular vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, twenty ministers and junior ministers in the cabinet are seen very much inactive.Although nine months have already passed since Awami League led 'Grand Alliance' government [a combination of leftists and Islamists] came in power through a questioned landslide victory, according to Dhaka's popular vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, twenty ministers and junior ministers in the cabinet are seen very much inactive.
Two of the ministers of the present government are mostly spending time at home or hospital as they have several physical complications, while some of them do not attend their office even five hours a week. Ministries are forced to send files at their homes for signature.
According to Manabzamin, there is no reflection of the Electoral Manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League in its administration. There are 52 member cabinet in Bangladesh consisting ministers, junior ministers and advisors. The newspaper said, there is 'tug of war' between ministers and secretaries in a number of ministries in Bangladesh, as those ministers are trying to turn these government offices into mere center of party sycophants and touts.
The most effective minister in the preset cabinet in Bangladesh is Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, who is in charge of the finance ministry. He is popularly known as the 'digital minister' in Bangladesh as he already has introduced e-communication system in his ministry where, every citizen of Bangladesh can contact the minister through email and get replies to their questions. Finance ministry in Bangladesh is considered to be the most effective under the leadership of AMA Muhit.
Agricultural affairs minister Matia Chowdhury, who enjoys high esteem of being the most honest politician in Bangladesh is earning wrath of Awami League activists as she rejects all forms of requests from party touts. But now a days, there are even allegations of irregularities against Mrs. Chowdhury. She is alleged of issuing license for dealing in fertilizer only to Awami League cadres.
Commerce minister Lieutenant Colonel [Retired] Faruq Khan has already earned the bad reputation of being the most talketive minister in Bangladesh. Although there are rumors that the commerce minister does not pay any heed to any type of persuation from the party cadres, it is proved that several relatives of him are active in lobbying and they are known to be the 'channels' in reaching the minister in getting any issue settled and done. Faruq Khan is already alleged of according a huge business contract of edible oil and sugar to a non-existent Swedish company.
There are series of allegations against the junior minister in law ministry, Advocate Qamrul Islam. It is reported in press that, he is continuing to take bribes in appointing Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors in Bangladesh.
General Secretary or ruling party and minister in charge of local government and rural development [LGRD], Syed Ashraful Islam attends his office only 5-6 hours a week. His absence in the ministry causes tremendous obstacle in smooth performance of this very important office of the government.
According to some of his close allies, the LGRD minister wakes up from bed everyday at 1 pm. Till he gets prepared, the working hour of the ministry is almost finished. Syed Ashraful Islam is more busy in party activities than taking care of his responsibility as a very important minister.
Labor and manpower minister, Engineer Mosharraf Hussain [who is the father-in-law of Prime Minister's daughter] has failed to make any contribution in creating any job scope for Bangladeshi workers abroad. He also has failed in doing anything in resolving the ongoing labor unrest in various textile and readymade garment industries in Bangladesh.
Junior minister of labor and manpower ministry, Monnujan Sufian [wife of a trade unionist] spends most of the time in her constituency instead of attending the ministry.
Land minister Rexaul Karim Heera and Social Welfare minister Enamul Huq Mustafa Shahid spend most of their time at their homes, as they have several physical complications due to old age. Sons of these ministers were seen active in the ministries concerned in 'looking after' day-to-day activities of the ministries. It was reported in the local media that those sons of the ministers were making good amount of cash through various types of corruption, taking the advantage of their father's undeclared representatives in the ministries.
Leftist leader Dilip Barua, who is in charge of the industries ministry has failed to show any remarkable performance in past nine months. He has already been alleged of corruption while purchasing fertilizer from abroad. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh imports Urea, Potash and other types of fertilizer from foreign countries worth a few hundred million dollar, each year.
Minister in charge of civil aviation and tourism ministry, Golam Mohammed Quader is working tirelessly despite series of threats from the corrupt trade unionists in several organizations under his ministry, including the nation flag career Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Communication minister Syed Abul Hossain is alleged to be persuing and lobbying in getting various projects for his own company named Shaco Limited. Abul Hossain is known to be a good friend of China.
It is further alleged that, Abul Hossain has virtually forced the energy ministry in issuing the permission in favor of his own company for establishment of 150 mega watt power station in Sylhet district.
Health ministry has turned into an epicenter of war between the minister, junior minister and advisor. Due to such internal battle, there is virtually no performance of this ministry, which already resulted in no initiative from the government in providing vaccine to people during the recent crisis of Swine Flu. There are also reports in Bangladeshi media that the country is already suffering from acute crisis of birth control and family planning materials.
Minister in charge of livestock ministry is presently at the center of serious controversy as several animals are continuing to die at Dhaka zoo during past few weeks. The minister failed to take any action in stopping such dubious death of animals.
From these information it becomes crystal clear that the present government is gradually failing in ensuring good governance. Bangladesh Awami League is not only failing to fulfill its electoral pledges to the nation, but, pushing the fate of the nation towards multiple complicities mostly due to either mafunction or non-functioning of the ministers.
Meanwhile, another leading vernacular daily in Dhaka, Amader Shomoy reported that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajib Wajed Joy is working as her 'undeclared advisor' since the present government came in power.
In 1996, when Awami League came in power, Joy, who lives in United States committes series of irregularities by proclaiming to be the advisor to his mother. It was even reported in a English language periodical in Bangladesh that Sajib Wajed Joy became owner of huge properties in United States during the tenure of his mother [1996-2001].
Now, here is the most alarming information, which will clearly show the bad governance of Bangladesh Awami League in past nine months. According to Amar Desh, a front ranking vernacular dailly newspaper in Bangladesh, 338 women and children were raped during past nine months in various parts of Bangladesh while 50 women and 22 minor girls were murdered after rape.
The report further said, 68 women and 51 girls were also gang raped during past nine months.
On September 25, 2009, 10 activists of Bangladesh Awami League raped a young girl, on her return from a Hindu temple at Kolapara upazila [sub-district] under Patuakhali district at the Southern part of Bangladesh. Later, an influential ruling party leader of the sub-dustrict, forced the family members of the raped girl to sign in blank papers to stop them from lodging any complaint with police. None of the perpetrators were ever arrested since the brutal rape of the Hindu girl.
At Pirojpur district [Southern part of Bangladesh], Ahsan Kabir Mamun, information secretary of the district committee of the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League abducted a school girl and videographed while raping her with the help of his friends. It may be mentioned here that, while Awami League was in power in 1996, a leader of its student's wing arranged a grand party at Jahangir Nagar University to celebrate the completion of his 'raping 100 female students'. Later, instead of punishing this perpetrator, Awami League awarded him with a job at National University. Since Awami League came in power in 2009, such rapes have again started in various university campuses and residential halls in Bangladesh.
Although nine months have already passed since Awami League led 'Grand Alliance' government [a combination of leftists and Islamists] came in power through a questioned landslide victory, according to Dhaka's popular vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, twenty ministers and junior ministers in the cabinet are seen very much inactive.Although nine months have already passed since Awami League led 'Grand Alliance' government [a combination of leftists and Islamists] came in power through a questioned landslide victory, according to Dhaka's popular vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, twenty ministers and junior ministers in the cabinet are seen very much inactive.
Two of the ministers of the present government are mostly spending time at home or hospital as they have several physical complications, while some of them do not attend their office even five hours a week. Ministries are forced to send files at their homes for signature.
According to Manabzamin, there is no reflection of the Electoral Manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League in its administration. There are 52 member cabinet in Bangladesh consisting ministers, junior ministers and advisors. The newspaper said, there is 'tug of war' between ministers and secretaries in a number of ministries in Bangladesh, as those ministers are trying to turn these government offices into mere center of party sycophants and touts.
The most effective minister in the preset cabinet in Bangladesh is Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, who is in charge of the finance ministry. He is popularly known as the 'digital minister' in Bangladesh as he already has introduced e-communication system in his ministry where, every citizen of Bangladesh can contact the minister through email and get replies to their questions. Finance ministry in Bangladesh is considered to be the most effective under the leadership of AMA Muhit.
Agricultural affairs minister Matia Chowdhury, who enjoys high esteem of being the most honest politician in Bangladesh is earning wrath of Awami League activists as she rejects all forms of requests from party touts. But now a days, there are even allegations of irregularities against Mrs. Chowdhury. She is alleged of issuing license for dealing in fertilizer only to Awami League cadres.
Commerce minister Lieutenant Colonel [Retired] Faruq Khan has already earned the bad reputation of being the most talketive minister in Bangladesh. Although there are rumors that the commerce minister does not pay any heed to any type of persuation from the party cadres, it is proved that several relatives of him are active in lobbying and they are known to be the 'channels' in reaching the minister in getting any issue settled and done. Faruq Khan is already alleged of according a huge business contract of edible oil and sugar to a non-existent Swedish company.
There are series of allegations against the junior minister in law ministry, Advocate Qamrul Islam. It is reported in press that, he is continuing to take bribes in appointing Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors in Bangladesh.
General Secretary or ruling party and minister in charge of local government and rural development [LGRD], Syed Ashraful Islam attends his office only 5-6 hours a week. His absence in the ministry causes tremendous obstacle in smooth performance of this very important office of the government.
According to some of his close allies, the LGRD minister wakes up from bed everyday at 1 pm. Till he gets prepared, the working hour of the ministry is almost finished. Syed Ashraful Islam is more busy in party activities than taking care of his responsibility as a very important minister.
Labor and manpower minister, Engineer Mosharraf Hussain [who is the father-in-law of Prime Minister's daughter] has failed to make any contribution in creating any job scope for Bangladeshi workers abroad. He also has failed in doing anything in resolving the ongoing labor unrest in various textile and readymade garment industries in Bangladesh.
Junior minister of labor and manpower ministry, Monnujan Sufian [wife of a trade unionist] spends most of the time in her constituency instead of attending the ministry.
Land minister Rexaul Karim Heera and Social Welfare minister Enamul Huq Mustafa Shahid spend most of their time at their homes, as they have several physical complications due to old age. Sons of these ministers were seen active in the ministries concerned in 'looking after' day-to-day activities of the ministries. It was reported in the local media that those sons of the ministers were making good amount of cash through various types of corruption, taking the advantage of their father's undeclared representatives in the ministries.
Leftist leader Dilip Barua, who is in charge of the industries ministry has failed to show any remarkable performance in past nine months. He has already been alleged of corruption while purchasing fertilizer from abroad. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh imports Urea, Potash and other types of fertilizer from foreign countries worth a few hundred million dollar, each year.
Minister in charge of civil aviation and tourism ministry, Golam Mohammed Quader is working tirelessly despite series of threats from the corrupt trade unionists in several organizations under his ministry, including the nation flag career Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Communication minister Syed Abul Hossain is alleged to be persuing and lobbying in getting various projects for his own company named Shaco Limited. Abul Hossain is known to be a good friend of China.
It is further alleged that, Abul Hossain has virtually forced the energy ministry in issuing the permission in favor of his own company for establishment of 150 mega watt power station in Sylhet district.
Health ministry has turned into an epicenter of war between the minister, junior minister and advisor. Due to such internal battle, there is virtually no performance of this ministry, which already resulted in no initiative from the government in providing vaccine to people during the recent crisis of Swine Flu. There are also reports in Bangladeshi media that the country is already suffering from acute crisis of birth control and family planning materials.
Minister in charge of livestock ministry is presently at the center of serious controversy as several animals are continuing to die at Dhaka zoo during past few weeks. The minister failed to take any action in stopping such dubious death of animals.
From these information it becomes crystal clear that the present government is gradually failing in ensuring good governance. Bangladesh Awami League is not only failing to fulfill its electoral pledges to the nation, but, pushing the fate of the nation towards multiple complicities mostly due to either mafunction or non-functioning of the ministers.
Meanwhile, another leading vernacular daily in Dhaka, Amader Shomoy reported that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajib Wajed Joy is working as her 'undeclared advisor' since the present government came in power.
In 1996, when Awami League came in power, Joy, who lives in United States committes series of irregularities by proclaiming to be the advisor to his mother. It was even reported in a English language periodical in Bangladesh that Sajib Wajed Joy became owner of huge properties in United States during the tenure of his mother [1996-2001].
Now, here is the most alarming information, which will clearly show the bad governance of Bangladesh Awami League in past nine months. According to Amar Desh, a front ranking vernacular dailly newspaper in Bangladesh, 338 women and children were raped during past nine months in various parts of Bangladesh while 50 women and 22 minor girls were murdered after rape.
The report further said, 68 women and 51 girls were also gang raped during past nine months.
On September 25, 2009, 10 activists of Bangladesh Awami League raped a young girl, on her return from a Hindu temple at Kolapara upazila [sub-district] under Patuakhali district at the Southern part of Bangladesh. Later, an influential ruling party leader of the sub-dustrict, forced the family members of the raped girl to sign in blank papers to stop them from lodging any complaint with police. None of the perpetrators were ever arrested since the brutal rape of the Hindu girl.
At Pirojpur district [Southern part of Bangladesh], Ahsan Kabir Mamun, information secretary of the district committee of the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League abducted a school girl and videographed while raping her with the help of his friends. It may be mentioned here that, while Awami League was in power in 1996, a leader of its student's wing arranged a grand party at Jahangir Nagar University to celebrate the completion of his 'raping 100 female students'. Later, instead of punishing this perpetrator, Awami League awarded him with a job at National University. Since Awami League came in power in 2009, such rapes have again started in various university campuses and residential halls in Bangladesh.
Fresh news of minority persecution in Bangladesh
Fresh news of minority persecution in Bangladesh
Advocate Robindra Ghosh, President-Bangladesh Minority Watch [BDMW] sent a number of informative reports on fresh persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Abduction of a Christian girl:
Silvia Sarker [Merry], aged about 12 and a student of 8th grade was abducted on July 30, 2009 on her way to home from school in Barisal district [southern part of Bangladesh] by a group of armed youths. Silvia Sarker is a student of local Sreemati Matrimongal Girls High School.
BDMW informs that a group of culprits named Al-Amin Faria [24], Shamim Faria [22], Shahadat Faria [20] amd Sattar Faria [50] of the locality abducted Silvia Sarker at around 1:00 pm from a place which is two kilometer away from the local police station. A first information report [formal case] was lodged on August 2, 2009 by Julian Sarker, father of the Christian school girl, under section 7/30 of the Women and Children Repression Act. Case number 3. In the first information report, it was alleged that the victim was abducted for forceful conversion to Islam and was forced to marry a Muslim boy. She was subsequently raped by her abducter. Local newspapers carried news of this abduction. Police failed to rescue the girl from the captivity of the abducters.
Though police arrested two of the accuseds, but they later were released on bail from the court and started giving threats of dire consequence to family members of the abducted girl.
Attack on Hindu temple:
A group of influential locals under the leadership of one Ibrahim attacked 'Lord Shiva Temple' at Dhamrai sub-district, under Dhaka district of October 8, 2009. Attackers demolished deities, looted valuables and injured 10 Hindus including the priest of the temple. Subsequently a case was lodged with the local police station by the priest Mongal Chandra Mondal [a local Hindu], but police did not arrest any of the attackers for reason unknown.
Forceful conversion of a Hindu girl:
The Trend of fraudulent conversion by Muslims personifying Hindu adolescent girls increased abnormally at Joypurhat [northern part of the country] in Bangladesh. In those areas, a sense of insecurity prevails amongst the Hindu communities due to such unabated trend. The local administration also failed to provide adequate protection to victim families of Hindu communities.
Purnima Rani – daughter of Dulal Roy of Chitra Para-Joypurhat town was missing for weeks. She was not rescued by police as her abducters were patronized by local leaders of the ruling party. In this area, police regularly deny to register complaints of abduction and forceful conversion.
Another Hindu girl named Nabami Sarkar – daughter of Akhil Sarkar as well Krishna Rani, Mina Debnath, Shikha Debnath and Prativa Rani [all Hindu girls] were forcefully abducted for conversion into Islam by influential locals.
At the frantic bid of the human rights and minority rights groups, local police rescued Purnima Roy daughter of Dulal Roy on October 9, 2009 and produced her before the court. The court sent her to judicial custody.
In another incident, a Hindu girl named Krishna was abducted by a Muslim boy and later was raped in captivity. Local finally were able to rescue the girl in a critical condition. Though a case was lodged, there was no action by the police against the perpetrators. It is alleged that, local politicians belonging to the ruling party are putting pressure on police in remaining silent on such cases of abduction and conversion, as many Muslims consider conversions as a 'Holy task'.
Most of the Hindu parents of girl children are in serious fear, as such abduction and forceful conversion may happen with their girls any moment.
Trend of forceful conversion of religious minorities to Islam is increasing in Bangladesh especially after the increase of activities of Tablighi jamaat as well as provocative sermons by Muslim clergies in the mosques. These clergies and Tablighis offer heaven for the person and his parents and fore-parents for a successful conversion of a religious minority girl or boy into Islam.
According to Bangladesh law, abduction and forceful conversion is a criminal offense. But, none were ever convicted by any courts of law in the country for forcefully converting any minority girl into Islam. In most cases, the abducted girls are converted into Islam and subsquently married to a Muslim boy. Before trial starts, these abducted girls mostly become pregnant. So, they fail to speak out against such crime, fearing finally being abandoned both by her 'husband' as well members of her family and community. Several females, who were victims of such notoriety finally ended up in local brothels, being totally abandoned by everyone.
Establishment of a rehabilitation center for such minority girls, who are abducted, violated and finally rescued but abandoned by the families and societies should be established in Bangladesh for the greater cause of humanity.
On the other hand, Bangladeshi government should also introduce strict law for the incidents of attack on religious temples or worship places by any citizen of the country
Advocate Robindra Ghosh, President-Bangladesh Minority Watch [BDMW] sent a number of informative reports on fresh persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Abduction of a Christian girl:
Silvia Sarker [Merry], aged about 12 and a student of 8th grade was abducted on July 30, 2009 on her way to home from school in Barisal district [southern part of Bangladesh] by a group of armed youths. Silvia Sarker is a student of local Sreemati Matrimongal Girls High School.
BDMW informs that a group of culprits named Al-Amin Faria [24], Shamim Faria [22], Shahadat Faria [20] amd Sattar Faria [50] of the locality abducted Silvia Sarker at around 1:00 pm from a place which is two kilometer away from the local police station. A first information report [formal case] was lodged on August 2, 2009 by Julian Sarker, father of the Christian school girl, under section 7/30 of the Women and Children Repression Act. Case number 3. In the first information report, it was alleged that the victim was abducted for forceful conversion to Islam and was forced to marry a Muslim boy. She was subsequently raped by her abducter. Local newspapers carried news of this abduction. Police failed to rescue the girl from the captivity of the abducters.
Though police arrested two of the accuseds, but they later were released on bail from the court and started giving threats of dire consequence to family members of the abducted girl.
Attack on Hindu temple:
A group of influential locals under the leadership of one Ibrahim attacked 'Lord Shiva Temple' at Dhamrai sub-district, under Dhaka district of October 8, 2009. Attackers demolished deities, looted valuables and injured 10 Hindus including the priest of the temple. Subsequently a case was lodged with the local police station by the priest Mongal Chandra Mondal [a local Hindu], but police did not arrest any of the attackers for reason unknown.
Forceful conversion of a Hindu girl:
The Trend of fraudulent conversion by Muslims personifying Hindu adolescent girls increased abnormally at Joypurhat [northern part of the country] in Bangladesh. In those areas, a sense of insecurity prevails amongst the Hindu communities due to such unabated trend. The local administration also failed to provide adequate protection to victim families of Hindu communities.
Purnima Rani – daughter of Dulal Roy of Chitra Para-Joypurhat town was missing for weeks. She was not rescued by police as her abducters were patronized by local leaders of the ruling party. In this area, police regularly deny to register complaints of abduction and forceful conversion.
Another Hindu girl named Nabami Sarkar – daughter of Akhil Sarkar as well Krishna Rani, Mina Debnath, Shikha Debnath and Prativa Rani [all Hindu girls] were forcefully abducted for conversion into Islam by influential locals.
At the frantic bid of the human rights and minority rights groups, local police rescued Purnima Roy daughter of Dulal Roy on October 9, 2009 and produced her before the court. The court sent her to judicial custody.
In another incident, a Hindu girl named Krishna was abducted by a Muslim boy and later was raped in captivity. Local finally were able to rescue the girl in a critical condition. Though a case was lodged, there was no action by the police against the perpetrators. It is alleged that, local politicians belonging to the ruling party are putting pressure on police in remaining silent on such cases of abduction and conversion, as many Muslims consider conversions as a 'Holy task'.
Most of the Hindu parents of girl children are in serious fear, as such abduction and forceful conversion may happen with their girls any moment.
Trend of forceful conversion of religious minorities to Islam is increasing in Bangladesh especially after the increase of activities of Tablighi jamaat as well as provocative sermons by Muslim clergies in the mosques. These clergies and Tablighis offer heaven for the person and his parents and fore-parents for a successful conversion of a religious minority girl or boy into Islam.
According to Bangladesh law, abduction and forceful conversion is a criminal offense. But, none were ever convicted by any courts of law in the country for forcefully converting any minority girl into Islam. In most cases, the abducted girls are converted into Islam and subsquently married to a Muslim boy. Before trial starts, these abducted girls mostly become pregnant. So, they fail to speak out against such crime, fearing finally being abandoned both by her 'husband' as well members of her family and community. Several females, who were victims of such notoriety finally ended up in local brothels, being totally abandoned by everyone.
Establishment of a rehabilitation center for such minority girls, who are abducted, violated and finally rescued but abandoned by the families and societies should be established in Bangladesh for the greater cause of humanity.
On the other hand, Bangladeshi government should also introduce strict law for the incidents of attack on religious temples or worship places by any citizen of the country
The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) recently reported the abduction and forced conversion of a Bangladeshi Hindu girl to
The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) recently reported the abduction and forced conversion of a Bangladeshi Hindu girl to Islam; two human rights organizations, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and Bangladesh Minority Watch (BDMW) also investigated it. At 12:45am on 13 June, Koli Goswami was asleep in her bed when five Muslims broke into the family home in Ghosai Chandura, located in northern Bangladesh. They vandalized the home and grabbed the 21-year old the college student. She cried out, but the men easily overpowered her and covered her head to muffle the screams. When others in the house came to her aid, the perpetrators drew their guns, started shooting, and carried off the girl even as she struggled to break free. Her family has not seen her since that night three months ago.
Westerners believe that forced conversion belongs to a bygone age, which is why when presenting these incidents in Washington, it is critical to provide more than horrific allegations—which, by the way, the Bangladeshis routinely deny. Verified details, separating fact from hyperbole, and demonstrating some sort of government complicity are key. In this case, bizarre and contradictory actions by the police only confirm the Bangladeshi government's support for anti-minority violence and the ethnic cleansing of its Hindu population.
According to human rights activist Rabindra Ghosh, who investigated this case, police deny that any crime occurred and refuse to pursue a case; this despite physical evidence of a break-in, which they admit having; the family's video taped testimony; the legal complaint lodged by the girl's guardian; and the family's pleas for them to help locate and recover their daughter. Police told GHRD and BDMW representatives on site, "It is not kidnapping. It is love affairs between kidnapper and victim." Kidnapper? Victim? That hardly sounds like a love affair. Yet, police continue to insist that even while refusing to explain the basis for their conclusion, including their investigation, or why they dismiss the physical evidence that refutes their claim. Nor do they explain why it took five men—including an accused murderer currently charged with murder—to "convince" Koli to leave home.
These actions prompted my organization, Interfaith Strength, to investigate the matter under the direction of Bikash Halder, its Indian representative. Halder dispatched four men to the family home where they spoke with Koli's uncle and guardian, Professor Beraj Goswami. He claims to have faced nothing but corruption, duplicity, and collusion in the crime from the police. When he filed a complaint immediately after the kidnapping, he expected quick action given the nature of the crime and the family's obvious distress. Instead, he met with the police denial—but still insisted that producing Koli would clarify what happened that night. Instead, they produced suspect "affidavits and other so-called marriage of conversion documents," dated from the time of the girl's captivity. The only way to determine their veracity would be for Koli Goswami herself to testify in a safe environment that the documents were not force on her under duress.
Instead, Goswami's told Halder, the following sequence of events occurred. First, the Investigating Officer agreed to help him in exchange for a 25,000 Taka bribe, which Goswami paid. He ordered him to return to the Nandail police station on 21 June and wait while the police retrieved his niece. After quite some time, they returned instead with an older woman covered in a Muslim Burkha and hence impossible to identify. She said she was Koli Goswami's mother and that she and her daughter converted to Islam because of a love affair—something Koli's real mother disputed numerous times. Goswami denies that the woman was his sister-in-law, but cannot fathom the attempted deception since he could learn the truth by speaking to the woman he knew to be Koli Goswami's mother. There is a final, rather chilling element to the 21 June meeting: the local Awami League MP, Major General (Retired) Abdus Salam, was present during the episode and threatened Goswami should he proceed with the case any further or dispute the conversion.
Curiously, while the police did not produce Koli that day, they now claim that she was present at a secret hearing before a magistrate the next day, about which the family was never told until after it allegedly occurred. They cannot confirm that their daughter was there or that it even took place. Goswami "protested vehemently" and told Halder that as a result "we are afraid we may further be attacked and our adult daughters abducted."
What is not in dispute is: there was a home invasion; a family's daughter was taken and has not been seen since; the alleged perpetrators have been identified and at least one is a known criminal; and the police refuse to pursue a case. We also know that a magistrate and the police claim that Koli has converted to Islam, and a government official from the ruling Awami League warned the family to stop fighting it.
As noted in an earlier Pioneer article about an anti-Hindu pogrom in Dhaka, "normal legal protections are suspended for Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh."
Abductions, rape, and forced conversion of young minority girls is up under the current Bangladeshi government; prosecutions are non-existent. This attack on the Hindu gene pool is a key element to ongoing ethnic cleansing. As such Bangladesh's Hindu population continues to decline—down to nine percent from almost one in five Bangladeshis at the time of independence. Incidents like these proceed with a wink and a nod from the government and silence from the international community. We can only hope that it wakes up to these atrocities before Bangladesh's Hindus suffer the same fate as Pakistan's.
Westerners believe that forced conversion belongs to a bygone age, which is why when presenting these incidents in Washington, it is critical to provide more than horrific allegations—which, by the way, the Bangladeshis routinely deny. Verified details, separating fact from hyperbole, and demonstrating some sort of government complicity are key. In this case, bizarre and contradictory actions by the police only confirm the Bangladeshi government's support for anti-minority violence and the ethnic cleansing of its Hindu population.
According to human rights activist Rabindra Ghosh, who investigated this case, police deny that any crime occurred and refuse to pursue a case; this despite physical evidence of a break-in, which they admit having; the family's video taped testimony; the legal complaint lodged by the girl's guardian; and the family's pleas for them to help locate and recover their daughter. Police told GHRD and BDMW representatives on site, "It is not kidnapping. It is love affairs between kidnapper and victim." Kidnapper? Victim? That hardly sounds like a love affair. Yet, police continue to insist that even while refusing to explain the basis for their conclusion, including their investigation, or why they dismiss the physical evidence that refutes their claim. Nor do they explain why it took five men—including an accused murderer currently charged with murder—to "convince" Koli to leave home.
These actions prompted my organization, Interfaith Strength, to investigate the matter under the direction of Bikash Halder, its Indian representative. Halder dispatched four men to the family home where they spoke with Koli's uncle and guardian, Professor Beraj Goswami. He claims to have faced nothing but corruption, duplicity, and collusion in the crime from the police. When he filed a complaint immediately after the kidnapping, he expected quick action given the nature of the crime and the family's obvious distress. Instead, he met with the police denial—but still insisted that producing Koli would clarify what happened that night. Instead, they produced suspect "affidavits and other so-called marriage of conversion documents," dated from the time of the girl's captivity. The only way to determine their veracity would be for Koli Goswami herself to testify in a safe environment that the documents were not force on her under duress.
Instead, Goswami's told Halder, the following sequence of events occurred. First, the Investigating Officer agreed to help him in exchange for a 25,000 Taka bribe, which Goswami paid. He ordered him to return to the Nandail police station on 21 June and wait while the police retrieved his niece. After quite some time, they returned instead with an older woman covered in a Muslim Burkha and hence impossible to identify. She said she was Koli Goswami's mother and that she and her daughter converted to Islam because of a love affair—something Koli's real mother disputed numerous times. Goswami denies that the woman was his sister-in-law, but cannot fathom the attempted deception since he could learn the truth by speaking to the woman he knew to be Koli Goswami's mother. There is a final, rather chilling element to the 21 June meeting: the local Awami League MP, Major General (Retired) Abdus Salam, was present during the episode and threatened Goswami should he proceed with the case any further or dispute the conversion.
Curiously, while the police did not produce Koli that day, they now claim that she was present at a secret hearing before a magistrate the next day, about which the family was never told until after it allegedly occurred. They cannot confirm that their daughter was there or that it even took place. Goswami "protested vehemently" and told Halder that as a result "we are afraid we may further be attacked and our adult daughters abducted."
What is not in dispute is: there was a home invasion; a family's daughter was taken and has not been seen since; the alleged perpetrators have been identified and at least one is a known criminal; and the police refuse to pursue a case. We also know that a magistrate and the police claim that Koli has converted to Islam, and a government official from the ruling Awami League warned the family to stop fighting it.
As noted in an earlier Pioneer article about an anti-Hindu pogrom in Dhaka, "normal legal protections are suspended for Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh."
Abductions, rape, and forced conversion of young minority girls is up under the current Bangladeshi government; prosecutions are non-existent. This attack on the Hindu gene pool is a key element to ongoing ethnic cleansing. As such Bangladesh's Hindu population continues to decline—down to nine percent from almost one in five Bangladeshis at the time of independence. Incidents like these proceed with a wink and a nod from the government and silence from the international community. We can only hope that it wakes up to these atrocities before Bangladesh's Hindus suffer the same fate as Pakistan's.
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