Govt mulls new law to stop stalking of girls

11 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The government will enact new law, if required, to stop stalking of girls and sexual abuses in government and private organisations, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said yesterday. The prime minister's office has already sent orders to the deputy commissioners to take immediate steps to stop stalking, she said and called on the committees formed at different government levels to play an active role in combating sexual abuse of children and women. The state minister said this at a discussion on 'Effective steps to stop stalking and sexual abuse' organised by women and children affairs ministry at Biam auditorium in the city. Taking part in the discussion, girl students said they fall victim to stalking on their way to school. On the other hand, their parents and family members blame them for being stalked. The male students vowed to build resistance against the stalking. Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Meher Afroz Chumki said home and education ministries would be asked to take steps to stop stalking. Other speakers pointed out that lack of entertainment facilities in educational institutions leads the youth towards such unsocial activities. They called on the authorities to deploy additional law enforcers in selected spots and take prompt legal actions against the stalkers. The speakers also stressed the need to raise awareness about the social menace and said the media has a larger role to play in this regard. Steps Towards Development Executive Director Ranjan Karmakar, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association Executive Director Salma Ali, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad General Secretary Masuda Rehana Begum, former secretary of the Primary and Mass Education Division Tahmina Hossain and Prof Ishrat Shamim of Dhaka University, also spoke.