59 women sexually assaulted in public transport last year

Fifty-nine women were raped and sexually harassed on public transport across the country in 2019.

A survey conducted by Jatri Kalyan Samity revealed the disclosure on Monday.

According to the survey, in 2019, there were 52 incidents of women repression on public modes of transportation -- 44 on the roads and four each on rail and river ways.

The survey was conducted based on reports published in newspapers.

Among the incidents, there were 16 rapes, 12 gang rapes, nine attempted rapes and 15 sexual harassment cases.

The survey said a total of 44 cases were filed and 93 accused were arrested.

Amid countrywide protests, the trial of Rupa Khatun murder case ended within a short period in 2019. Four transport workers were sentenced to death and one was given seven years' imprisonment for raping and killing law student Rupa Khatun in a moving bus in Tangail in 2017.

While revealing the survey, General Secretary of Jatri Kalyan Samity Mojammel Haque said the real picture is worse.

Dhaka/Nur/AKA