Is Ten Years Not Enough?
The Politics of Implementing the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act
Slogans at the Mukteer Michhil (March for Freedom) during the 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence. Photo: Safia Azim
What happens when the home becomes a prison and the companion a monster? In Bangladesh, a country with a high rate of domestic violence, it is a sad reality for countless women and children. The Covid-19 lockdown has made matters only worse. According to data from Ain o Salish Kendra, 483 women were reportedly tortured by their husbands during the period of January-October 2020, 43 percent higher than what was reported in the same period in 2019; a similar trend can be observed in the number of women murdered by their husbands. A telephone survey with 53,340 women conducted by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) found that by June a total of 11,025 women had faced domestic violence since the lockdown began. The question is, despite having adequate le