Bangladesh is experiencing a concerning increase in violence targeting women and children, causing alarm among human rights groups. Incidents of alleged rape and attempted rape involving women and children in various districts have raised worries about the safety of vulnerable groups. The police have taken suspects into custody in Chuadanga, Jashore, and Cumilla, with criticism arising in Kushtia over attempts to resolve a case through village arbitration by local influential figures.
Reports indicate that a 20-year-old man, Tarikul Islam, was arrested for allegedly raping a 71-year-old woman in Chuadanga’s Damurhuda Upazila. In a separate incident, a youth named Jayanta Biswas was apprehended in Jashore for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl. Meanwhile, in Kushtia, a minor schoolboy was reportedly raped by a mango orchard caretaker, and in Cumilla, a shopkeeper was arrested for attempting to rape a 12-year-old boy inside his shop.
The rise in gender-based violence has persisted during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus and continues under the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party administration. Concerns have been raised regarding public safety, accountability, and the effectiveness of institutional safeguards. UNICEF has expressed serious concerns over the recent surge in violent acts against children in Bangladesh, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance child and gender-based violence prevention measures nationwide.
UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, stressed the necessity to end the culture of impunity for perpetrators and address gaps in prevention, reporting, institutional safeguarding, and support services for women and children. The statement highlighted the need for stronger accountability in various settings to ensure the safety and well-being of children and women.
