Harassment, target people\\\'s ignorance main reasons

FE Team | Published: November 30, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

KHULNA, Nov 29 (UNB): Despite having all facilities, the Victim Support Centre (VSC) of police in Khulna can hardly come to the use of those for whom it is meant, mainly due to people's ignorance of such a centre existing.
Set up in October, 2013, on the premises of Sonadanga Model Police Station in the city, the victim support centre of the division has provided services to highest 23 victims in the last one year, a number which is not worth mentioning.
Bangladesh police established the victim support centres in a bid to give legal aid to the women and children subjected to repression and torture both at family and social levels and rehabilitate them with the help of non-government organisations in the remote areas.
The authorities concerned said most of the people have no idea about the victim support centre which gives the victims of repression and torture living facilities and foods and provides them with health services and legal assistance free of cost.
Ten NGOs are providing health services, legal assistance, counseling and rehabilitation to the victims here.
These are Ain-o-Salish Kendra, Association for Community Development, Association for Correction and Social Reclamation, Aparajeya Bangladesh, Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Marie Stopes Clinics.
Representatives of some supporting NGOs said the victim support centre has been set up to introduce friendly- policing environment.
It was recommended to give the well-mannered police members posting here so that they deal with the cases of the affected from humanitarian view.
Talking about the low turnout of support seeking people here, the NGO representatives blamed harassment of the victims by the policemen in different ways.
They said that the victims have to come here for service via police; so they have a fear of being further harassed.
They also demanded introducing a fixed rule to ensure the victims' direct entry into the centre.
Khulna Metropolitan Police sources said one victim support centre was established in each of the seven divisions of the country in 2011 under the Police Reforms Project.