Violence against women and children in Bangladesh has reached alarming levels, with some forms of abuse in just six months of this year nearly matching or even surpassing last year’s totals, according to a new report by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP).
The report, titled “Violence Against Women and Girls in Bangladesh: 2024 Survey”, was unveiled Tuesday at the organization’s central office in Dhaka. It was based on cases reported in 14 national newspapers, categorized by victims under and over 18 years of age. The study examined eight types of crimes: rape, gang rape, attempted rape, sexual harassment, child marriage, dowry-related violence, domestic worker abuse, and cybercrime.
According to the data, 2,937 incidents of violence were reported in 2023, 2,525 in 2024, and 1,555 cases in just the first six months of 2025. While cybercrime and domestic worker abuse showed a slight decline this year, rape, sexual harassment, child marriage, and dowry-related violence have already exceeded last year’s figures.
Younger girls remain most vulnerable. The survey revealed that victims of rape, sexual harassment, and child marriage are predominantly under 18. Offenders, too, are mostly young, with the majority aged between 16 and 30. In 2024, 364 cases of rape were reported, including 220 girls and 144 women. Gang rape victims included 49 girls and 99 women, while 134 girls and 77 women were raped and murdered. Among 224 sexual harassment cases, 125 victims were girls. Twenty girls were subjected to child marriage, while dowry-related abuse affected 66 women and two girls.
Perpetrator data shows that 28% of rape suspects were between 11 and 30 years old, most commonly aged 21–25. In 29 cybercrime cases, half of the offenders were 16–30 years old. Teachers accounted for 24% of sexual harassment cases, while 31% involved identified criminals or local miscreants. Nearly half of gang-rape offenders were strangers to the victims.
Rise in legal action. The report also noted a growing tendency to file cases, with 62% of rape incidents leading to legal complaints. However, it highlighted limitations, including underreporting of domestic violence, lack of victim details, and absence of follow-up reporting in the media.
Speaking at the event, BMP President Fauzia Moslem expressed deep concern, saying, “Young girls are the primary victims, while young men are often the perpetrators. Disturbingly, the same offenders are repeatedly involved in crimes, often backed by political or influential protection.” She added that rising lawlessness and a growing culture of misogyny in society were contributing factors.
General Secretary Maleka Banu emphasized the need for accountability and good governance to reduce delays in legal proceedings, while also expressing concern over children becoming increasingly unsafe both inside and outside the home.
The report’s findings were presented by Senior Training and Research Officer Afroza Arman, with other speakers including Joint General Secretary Sima Moslem, Legal Aid Secretary Rekha Saha, and Advocacy Director Dipti Shikdar.
