400 women raped in 7 months: ASK

At least 400 women were raped in Bangladesh between January and July this year, with 37 rape victims killed after the assaults, according to data compiled by human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).

The number of rape cases remained high in July, with at least 81 women raped, compared with 80 in June. Seven of the victims were killed after rape, ASK said.

Children and adolescents accounted for a significant portion of the victims in July. Of the 81 rape victims, nine were under six, 18 were aged between seven and 12, and 16 were between 13 and 18.

The data were compiled from reports published in various media outlets and verified by human rights activists, ASK said.

The rights organisation also reported that 71 prisoners died in jail custody during the first seven months of the year. In July alone, 10 inmates died in custody-seven undertrial prisoners and three convicted prisoners.

Mob violence also remained a major concern. At least 21 people were killed in mob beatings in July, taking the January-July total to 134. Political violence claimed 11 lives and injured 120 people in July.

Between January and July, at least 77 people were killed and 2,974 injured in 400 incidents of political violence, according to ASK.