Dhaka: Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid today announced that services will be provided within 24 hours through Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in cases of violence against women and children. She made these remarks while addressing an event titled “Pashe Achhi” in Dhaka at the Osmani Memorial auditorium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was part of a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at encouraging women’s participation at all levels in the 2026 referendum, which will be held alongside the 13th national parliamentary elections. The event also marked the formal inauguration of efforts to strengthen integrated services for the remedy and prevention of violence against women and children, alongside the launch of Quick Response Team (QRT) activities.
Principal Coordinator (SDG) of the Chief Adviser’s Office Lamiya Morshed attended the event as the special guest, with Senior Secretary of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry Mamtaz Ahmed presiding over the occasion. Sharmeen emphasized that the initiative will be implemented with the coordinated efforts of various government departments, agencies, and non-governmental organizations to effectively address and prevent violence against women and children.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs oversees 14 One-Stop Crisis Centres and 67 One-Stop Crisis Cells, along with a toll-free national helpline (109) for the prevention of violence against women and children. Additional resources include a National Trauma Counseling Centre, eight Regional Trauma Counseling Centres, a National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory, eight Divisional DNA Screening Laboratories, and a real-time monitoring database, all working collaboratively to prevent abuse against women and children nationwide.
Sharmeen further stated that ensuring the safety of girls and children should be the foremost movement of this time. “To make this country beautiful, children must be kept safe and girls must be ensured security,” she added. She also highlighted the importance of security for women’s participation in the 2026 referendum, stating that voting “Yes” would signify reform, a New Bangladesh, and the safe upbringing of girls, underscoring the necessity of a “Yes” vote to rebuild Bangladesh anew.