TIB Condemns DMP Commissioner’s Remarks on ‍‍`Rape‍‍`

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed its strong disapproval of the excessive force used by the police during recent anti-rape protests and criticized the DMP Commissioner’s advice to the media to avoid using the word “rape.”

On March 16, 2025, TIB organized a human chain at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka at 11 AM to raise awareness about the increasing incidents of violence and sexual assault against women across the country.

In a press release, TIB stated that the excessive force used by the police during the anti-rape protests and the suggestion made by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali to the media to refrain from using the term “rape” were alarming. 

According to TIB, this reflects a continued pattern of authoritarian practices by the police. 

By urging the media to report less on rape cases, the DMP Commissioner is, in effect, shielding rapists and encouraging a culture of silence around these crimes.

The organization also emphasized that rape and violence against women and girls have become everyday occurrences in the country, with the situation worsening in recent months. 

Women and girls of all ages, both inside their homes and outside, in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, are constantly at risk of severe violence. 

This growing trend of violence has created an atmosphere of fear among citizens, which TIB considers completely unacceptable.

Furthermore, TIB pointed out the declining position of Bangladesh on international gender equality indices. 

The surge in violence against women and children has become a significant concern, further fueled by religious extremism and the misuse of religious ideologies to infringe upon the rights of women and girls.

According to data from the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), 39 women fell victim to rape in January 2025 alone. 

Of these, 21 cases were individual rapes, while 18 were instances of gang rape. 

Additionally, the "Violence Against Women Survey 2024" conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed that 70% of women in Bangladesh have experienced some form of physical, sexual, emotional, or economic violence at least once in their lifetime. 

In 2024, 49% of women reported experiencing such violence.

TIB’s criticism underscores the pressing need for urgent reforms and a collective effort to address the rampant violence against women in Bangladesh.