Dhaka: Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Wednesday urged all to come forward alongside police in aid of the repressed women and children.

He also said police have been investigating the cases relating to violence against women and children with utmost sincerity and professionalism.

‘We’ve also introduced helpdesks at different police stations across the country to help women,’ he said while unveiling the cover of a book titled ‘Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)’ at the Police Headquarters.

The book was prepared for Bangladesh Police with assistance from UNFPA to prevent gender-based repressions.

The IGP hoped that the new book will be helpful for the investigation officers to carry out inquiry into cases relating to torture on women and girl children.

‘It’ll be possible to provide best quality services to tortured women and children as outlined in the book,’ he observed.

Shahidul Hoque also asked investigation officers to follow the SOP properly while investigating such cases, and underscored the need for changing the attitude towards women to prevent violence against them.

Presenting the statistics of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UNFPA, the programme was told that 70 percent of married women have been subjected to different forms of repression. But, only 2.6 percent such incidents are being reported with police.

Senior officials of the Police Headquarters, including Additional IGPs Fatema Begum and Mainur Rahman Chowdhury, DIG (Admin) Binoy Krishna Bala., officer-in charge of UNFPA Iori Kato and representatives of UNwomen, ILO, ActionAid, Plan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Ain-O-Salish Kendra and Bangladesh Mohila Ainjibi Samity were, among others, present.