A just, humane and sustainable society cannot be built without ensuring women’s leadership, genuine gender equality, and the safety and rights of women and girls. Ending gender-based violence remains essential to social progress and lasting peace.
The Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF) has expressed serious concern over a rising trend of violence against women and children in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna district. Incidents such as rape, child marriage, dowry-related abuse, domestic violence, and public sexual harassment are increasing at an alarming rate, reflecting a deep social crisis.
These concerns were raised at a press conference held on Wednesday, January 28, in Chatmohar, where MSF highlighted the annual activities of its EmpowerHer project.
According to information collected from local communities and MSF’s fact-finding activities, at least 40 incidents of violence against women and children, including rape, were reported in Chatmohar between January and December 2025. MSF said the figures show that gender-based violence remains a serious and unresolved problem.
Speakers at the press conference stressed that law enforcement alone cannot address the issue. They said stronger social awareness, active civil society engagement, and local-level accountability are crucial. Preventing violence requires empowering women and marginalised groups to understand and exercise their rights.
MSF is implementing the EmpowerHer project in Chatmohar upazila to address these challenges. The project covers all 11 unions of the upazila under the Citizenship CEF programme, funded by the Embassy of Switzerland and Global Affairs Canada, with support from GF Consulting Group. Banchte Chai Samaj Unnayan Samity is working as the local partner.
Project experience shows that women and children in Chatmohar remain highly vulnerable to sexual harassment, child marriage, and other human rights violations at both family and community levels.
In 2025, the project organised one inception meeting, 77 monthly meetings, 11 workshops, three quarterly meetings, 11 peer learning sessions, two legal aid meetings, five fact-finding activities, and four litigation support initiatives. Union-level Gender Equality Forums (GEF), each with 30 members, have been formed across all unions.
Police data from Chatmohar Police Station shows that 187 cases were filed in 2025, including 32 cases related to violence against women and children and six rape cases. Through the District Legal Aid Office, more than Tk 10 lakh in dowry money was recovered for seven survivors, while around 500 cases were resolved through alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The EmpowerHer project is also being implemented in 67 unions across seven districts nationwide and will continue until 2027. Its goal is to strengthen women’s empowerment, prevent gender-based violence, and develop women’s leadership at the grassroots level.
MSF reiterated that preventing violence against women and children is a collective responsibility that requires joint action from families, communities, elected representatives, the administration, and citizens.
MSF EmpowerHer project DHRMO Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui and UF Jahangir Alam were present at the press conference, along with local journalists.
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