Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain spoke today at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) session. Photo: Video Screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 10, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain today said the government has taken an initiative to establish One Stop Crisis Centres (OCCs) in all 37 public medical colleges in the country to ensure comprehensive support for women and children victims of violence.

He said the centres will provide integrated services including healthcare, police assistance, legal aid and other essential support to survivors of violence.

The minister made the remarks while replying to a very urgent notice raised by ruling party lawmaker Begum Nipun Roy Chowdhury under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Dr Zahid said that after assuming office, the present government has undertaken steps to expand OCC services to all public medical colleges, which will significantly broaden the scope of support for victims.

He also said that a Quick Response Team (QRT) programme is being implemented to ensure faster assistance, expand operational responsibilities, and raise public awareness regarding violence against women and children.

The minister informed Parliament that the OCC initiative was first introduced by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and initially established in eight old medical colleges. Later, six more OCCs were added in newly established medical colleges, bringing the total to 15 OCCs currently in operation.

So far, 81,928 people have received services from OCCs, including 49,767 victims of physical violence, 31,596 survivors of sexual violence and 565 victims of fire-related incidents, he told Parliament.

He further said that currently 95 One Stop Crisis Cells are operating across the country, including 30 at district level and 65 at upazila health complexes. The government plans to expand these services to all 64 districts and all upazilas in phases.

He added that the One Stop Crisis Cell system has been renamed as Quick Response Team (QRT) to make it more effective, with the main objective of providing immediate support to victims and their families, ensuring justice through legal action, and offering rapid response after incidents of violence.