Only raising awareness would not be much effective in curbing domestic violence unless the women get legal support properly, said the women's rights activists.

Women are not receiving enough support from the family as well as society. Proper legal system and enforcement of existing laws are a must to protect women from domestic violence, said Sultana Kamal, president of Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK).

The government also feels that such a law will help check violence against women.

Women face repression in their homes since childhood and the intensity of torture increases after she gets married.

A report of Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association (BNWLA) revealed that as many as 155 women were murdered by their husbands, 40 killed by their in-laws and 42 died from torture by their own relatives in 2003.

Also, 35 women were severely tortured by their husbands and 38 others by in-laws while 21 women were subjected to torture by her own relatives during the period.

The report also showed that dowry is to blame for most of the incidents. At least 129 incidents of dowry-related violence took place in 2003.

But it is disappointing that two-thirds of cases were not recorded with police because there is no specific law on domestic violence although there are several special laws to deal with the issue. Only 115 cases were filed in 2003 while at least 331 incidents of violence took place.

Many countries, including Malaysia and Turkey, have enacted the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, also called DVA, to check such crimes.

"It is true that there is no such act in Bangladesh, but there are Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, Acid Crime Prevention Act and Acid Control Act. If the women's rights groups put forward their proposals, we will examine it and try to implement their recommendations," said Women and Children Affairs Minister Khurshid Jahan Haque.

The women's rights organisations underscored the need for raising awareness about the menace and called on women to be more courageous to initiate legal action against the offenders.

Women are now filing cases which was not seen even a few years ago, said Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. Different ministries are also working to stamp out violence against women, he added.

Kathryn B Ward, project director of Nari Jiban and a visiting professor at Millennium University, said that to reduce the vulnerability of women to repression, the most important thing is to inform them about the resources like shelter homes, treatment facilities and legal aids for the abused.

"It is hopeful that different non-government organisations are helping the victims of domestic violence through counselling, legal support, shelter home and treatment," she added.

Although women's rights organisations are working to stop domestic violence, it would take time to enact laws as it is a long procedure, said Sultana Kamal.

"We, the women's rights organisations, are now working on raising awareness. We are also trying to press the government to enact such law through submitting memorandum and writing to the members of parliament," she added.