Violence against women and children in Bangladesh is rising at an alarming rate. Reports from human rights organizations show that in the first seven months of this year, incidents of rape increased by more than 68 percent compared with the same period last year. Violence against children rose by 38 percent. Experts say this is not just a matter of statistics but a serious threat to social security and human rights.
Rights groups and human rights activists believe that growing misogyny and the weak role of law enforcement are among the reasons behind the persistence of such violence. They also point to the lack of punishment for offenders and delays in the justice system as driving factors behind the rising number of cases.
According to data from Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), which works on human rights, 292 women and children were raped in Bangladesh between January and July 2024. In the same period in 2025, that number rose to 492, marking a 68.49 percent increase in just one year. Violence against children also grew significantly in the same period. In the first seven months of last year, 463 children were subjected to violence. In 2025, the figure climbed to 640, a rise of 38.22 percent. The report also noted that incidents of sexual harassment and domestic violence increased this year compared with last year. Domestic violence alone rose by about 16 percent.
Figures from Bangladesh Mahila Parishad show that in the first seven months of last year, 253 women and children were raped across the country. Among them, 105 were victims of gang rape. Eighteen were killed after being raped, and five committed suicide out of social stigma. Another 137 faced attempted rape. In the same period this year, 405 women and children were raped. Of them, 117 were gang raped. Fifteen were killed after being raped, while five committed suicide. There were also 71 attempted rapes.
On the matter, Jona Goswami, Director of Advocacy and Networking at Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, told Bonik Barta, “The law and order situation in the country is not good. Anti-women propaganda has increased. Misogyny is rising. Because of all this, violence and abuse against women have increased. Criminals think—they will not get any punishment. That is why criminals have taken this critical period of the country as an opportunity.”
Meanwhile, the findings of the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) paint an even more troubling picture than those reported by ASK and Mahila Parishad. According to MSF, from January to July this year, 502 women were raped across the country. Among them, 133 were gang-raped. Twenty-seven women were murdered after being raped, while 209 others faced attempted rape. During the same period last year, 284 women were raped. Of them, 91 were gang-raped, 16 were killed after being raped, and 117 faced attempted rape.
Highlighting the government’s failure to prevent such crimes, Advocate Saidur Rahman, Chief Executive of MSF, told Bonik Barta, “There is no real effort to stop violence and abuse against women. Crimes have increased because local government leaders like chairmen, council members, and mayors are absent. Earlier, criminals thought they would be held accountable—whether by political leaders, local representatives, or community elders. But now none of these mechanisms exist. The second factor is police reluctance. They are performing their duties half-heartedly, treating their jobs as just a paycheck. This has sent a clear message to criminals: if they commit crimes, the police will do nothing.”
ASK’s data shows that domestic violence against women has also risen. In the first seven months of last year, 314 women were victims of domestic violence. This year, that number grew to 363. Among them, 17 were abused by their husbands, while 7 faced violence from in-laws. At least 133 women were killed by their husbands, 42 by in-laws, and 33 by other family members. In the same period, 114 women committed suicide, while 17 faced abuse from their own family members.
Dr. Syed Md Saikh Imtiaz, Professor at the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Dhaka, told Bonik Barta, “The policing system in the country has collapsed. Law and order has deteriorated. The police, who once played a more active role, have not returned to that role after becoming controversial during the July Uprising. But that is not the only reason. Since the July Uprising, a narrative has been pushed about women’s freedom, rights, and mobility. This narrative has quietly emboldened rapists. The irony is that those who shaped this narrative may not even realize it. But as a social researcher and gender specialist, I clearly see a direct link between this narrative and the rise in sexual violence against women.”