The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tohmina Akter( Helen)

Domestic violence against woman is a severe setback for them to grow up and lead normal life.

Nowadays domestic violence against woman is a common feature and very frequent in every society.

Even the women in developed countries and women of elite classes are not free from this curse. But the problem emerges as acute social problem mainly in the third world countries, where women often fall victims to domestic violence. The violence continues from childhood to the death. In a least developed country like Bangladesh, different dimensions of the violence are seen. Lack of education and awareness about rights are among the key reasons for the misfortune of women. Early marriage, narrow-minded men and fanaticism over religion make the society more patriarchic.

The common scenario is that women of all ages are falling victim to violence, sometimes even by family members.

In such countries, most of the women are housewives who usually work from dawn to midnight relentlessly for the wellbeing of their families. They have to take care of their family members, but they are treated very badly by those who care for.

Their dedication and sacrifice are not counted mostly, though they are always busy nursing the family members. But when a woman becomes ill, none comes forward to help her.

Aleya Begum, 32, of Comilla district said that one day she noticed her husband began to avoid her and did not like her anymore. Her husband was spending his time on unethical and illegal practices such as making extra-marital relation with other women and hanging out with women over cell phone. Whenever she went to protest her illegal deeds, her husband beat her and asked her to go away from his house leaving her two children here.

At the one stage, Aleya became frustrated thinking of her future. She was thinking what would happen in her life and what she could do. She had shelter neither in her own house (husband's house) nor in her parents' place as she had chosen the man she married herself, that her parents opposed.

Now she regrets the decision and looks for a solution. All she found is that she would not have to face this fate if she was educated and employed.