Cyberbulling has emerged as a trend of abusing the girl child amid the growing penetration of internet connectivity in the country, suggested the latest report of a rights group.
National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) unveiled the report at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Friday. The forum’s General Secretary Nasima Aktar Joly presented the report.
The rights activist said the growing trend of pornography and murders after rape in recent times proves that cruelty to girls and the culture of impunity are now commonplace in the country.
The platform connected to 196 non-government organisations considered news published in 24 national, local and online newspapers for making the report on the issue.
The report also suggested that some 15 girl children were victims of pornography, a relatively new form of sexual abuse while 3 girl children faced acid attacks and 136 girls were victims of kidnapping and trafficking in the first eight months of the year.
Regarding the early marriage, the media reports were not sufficient as the news of 15 incidents were published in the first eight months. However, the real scenario is different.
The field reports of NGCAF shows that at least 2,301 child marriages took place in 28 districts only during the time with a monthly average of 288 cases.
The report also revealed that 13 girl children were tortured due to dowry, out of which 5 girl children were killed due to non-payment of dowry. Some 181 girls committed suicide until the month of August this year where 46 girls committed suicide being cheated at love affairs and 35 due to mental torture by family members. During this period, 186 girls died. Besides, 8 girls were found abandoned during this period.
The researcher claimed the increasing depression leads the girls to commit suicide.
Educo Bangladesh child rights protection specialist Shahidul Islam, Good Neighbours Bangladesh education unit head Razia Sultana, YWCA general secretary Helen Monisha Sarker and NGCAF central coordinator Ahsana Zaman Anny were present on the occasion.
