Twelve traumatised rape victims committed suicide, said the report released yesterday.

The report based press reports and Odhikar's own sources also said 278 women were victims of dowry during the same period. Of them, 184 were killed, 20 committed suicide, 67 were physically tortured, 11 sustained injuries from acid attack and two were divorced.

During nine months from January to September, law enforcers killed 56 people while 61 others died in their custody.

Casualties from political violence included 306 dead and 4,779 injured, said the report, adding that 1,885 were arrested on political grounds.

Incidents of human rights violation in the hill tracts accounted for 28 cases of murder and 85 abductions. Twenty women and children were also raped and 84 people sustained injuries in different incidents.

Child victims of violence numbered 1,212 -- 339 were killed, 257 injured, 383 raped, 85 committed suicide, 49 sustained acid burns and 99 fell victims of trafficking.

The Institute of Democratic Rights (IDR) said in a report the daily average of people killed in September stood at 13 while the Bangladesh Society for Enforce-ment of Human Rights (BSEHR) reported the number at 11.

The IDR also reported 382 people were killed in September, up from 358 in August, and 96 women and children raped while the BSEHR put the number of such rape victims at 123.

Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum in a report said 633 incidents of child abuse took place in September.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reported that 89 journalists fell victim to torture and repression by criminals as well as ruling party elements.