279 women commit suicide last year

This was revealed in a survey by Naripakkha, a women's NGO.

The survey was conducted on the basis of reports published in different national dailies from November, 2002 to October, 2003.

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Workers of Naripakkha-led "Durbar Network," an association of 450 women organisations, revealed this at a press conference held in observance the International Women Repression Protest Day at Manikganj Press Club on Saturday.

Laxmi Chaterj read out their report.

President of Baimail Mahila Samity Jahanara Begum, executive director of SEDA Niva Sarkar, Ambia Khatun of Bangladesh Mohila Unnayan Samity, Romeja Akhter of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad spoke at the press conference.

Family feud, repression by husbands' relatives, dowry, cheating by lovers are mainly behind the suicides, they said.