Notwithstanding a change in social attitudes towards women’s employment, and involvement in the community and public life during the last decade, social curses like dowry, rape and violence have not declined. In the marriage market, monetary and asset transaction still exist at all levels, indicating the commodity status of a girl, which costs very little in the society.

Insecurity and vulnerability prevail in the lives of women in Bangladesh — at home, in the streets and at the workplace. Incidences of divorce and desertion are increasing. The most explicit expression of this insecurity takes place in the form of assault, acid throwing, rape, and trafficking. Though a number of laws have been enacted to protect women’s interest and provide security to them, they are yet to feel safe in the family and society. The sufferings of a woman who is violated are both physical and moral, because she not only faces complex legal procedures to get justice but is also looked down upon by the family and society for the rest of her life.

Astonishingly, much of the violence is performed within the four walls of the home. Studies show that about 40 percent of the women have been physically abused by their husbands, and about 19 percent of them experienced severe physical violence (Naved et al 2006). Such violence is omnipresent across social strata and economic class. A field-level investigation by CPD among 200 victims of spousal violence in 11 districts of Bangladesh reveals that domestic violence is in fact more prevalent in the middle income and rich households compared to poor households (Khatun et al 2008b). Table 4 shows various types of domestic violence found in the aforesaid study.

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