Most of the victims were housewives, killed in torture allegedly by husbands or their families. In most cases, demand for dowry was the main reason behind the torture, according to records with police and different NGOs.

Alongside, incidents of suicide by women also marked a rise. At least 90 such cases were detected during the period.

The incidents of killing, suicide and other forms of violence against woman marked a steady rise in the region.

The records show that 41 women were killed from January to June and 37 during July-December last year. The figure was 65 for the whole of 2004.

Kushtia topped the list with at least 28 women killed. Nine women were killed in Khulna, 8 in Chuadanga, 7 in Meherpur, 5 in Jhenidah, 6 in Magura, 10 in Jessore, 6 in Bagerhat and 3 in Narail.

Husbands were responsible for violence in most of the cases. Other family members were also found involved in torture for dowry. In a few cases, poverty was behind family feuds leading to torture by husbands, NGO sources said.

They said violence against women increased in the region in last few years.

"Violence against women and death from torture is increasing day by day", Dr MA Munir, Chairman of SONO Hospital in Kushtia town, the largest private hospital in Khulna division, told this correspondent.

A large number of deaths from torture or suicide remain unrecorded as cases are not filed by victims' relatives. Police recorded those as "unnatural deaths', police sources said.

NGO officials working on violence against women said victim's family do not lodge case fearing retaliation by killers and apprehending harassment and non-cooperation by police.

"They (victims families) also want to avoid unwanted trouble and harassment because in most cases, killers are protected by their influential patrons or a section of law enforcers", said MA Kader, executive director of SETU, a Kushtia-based NGO.

This correspondent also contacted several high police officials in the region, who also shared similar views on the issue.

In Kushtia, only eight cases were filed against 28 incidents of killing in last six months, police sources said. Three cases were filed in Jhenidah and two in Chuadanga against five and eight incidents respectively, it was gathered.

Some police officials in Kushtia said perpetrators of violence against women including killing go unpunished due to intervention by local influentials.

"Killers escape punishment as victims' families do not dare to file cases due to intervention by local influentials including political party leaders", Meherpur Police Superintendent SM Rokunuddin said.