Harassment of women is increasing in public service places

In a report surveyed by Action Aid Bangladesh it is seen that women face different forms of harassment public service oriented places like police, city corporation, public transportation, markets and hospitals. This survey has been carried out since 2016 with 400 participants in the urban slums located at Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Narayanganj. Women do not have any support while getting rude remark, cat calling, inappropriate touch. Most of cases remain unreported.

Almost 50% women get sexually harassed in the market place. Female councilors at the city corporation do not have any proper guidance to provide separate sitting corners, breastfeeding corners and separate toilets in the public places.

Women face physical and mental torture at the police stations. Sometimes, they face prolonged procedure for not giving bribe.

They also face harassments in the public transport and are not willing to use it except the urgency.

About 42.5% women receive rude behavior at hospitals. They face the harassment while purchasing tickets, waiting for the doctors, being in washrooms and examination rooms.

“In urban areas, women are being subjected to sexual harassment on public transportation, especially on buses. Respondents have mentioned various types of objectionable behavior, including touching their feet, pushing them off, and catcalling from behind,” says ActionAid Bangladesh Manager Nuzhat Jabin.

Advocate Fahima Nasrin Munni, executive member of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association, said: “At least 10 years ago, women were not raped on public transports, but now the violence has become rampant in our society. In this case, the lack of good governance is somewhat responsible because there is a lack of accountability.”

Source: Dhaka Tribune