Bangladesh has experienced a significant increase in human rights abuses, including violence against women and children, mob attacks, assaults on minorities, political clashes, journalist harassment, and deaths in jail custody during the initial months of 2026, as reported by a local human rights organization. The Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) documented 1,621 cases of violence against women and girls from January to June 2026, showing a 56% rise from the previous year.
The report highlighted that among the victims, 404 were rape survivors, with 238 being children and adolescent girls. Shockingly, 88 women and girls were victims of gang rape, 17 lost their lives after being raped, and one died by suicide. Additionally, 473 women and girls, including 173 children, faced sexual harassment during this period.
Furthermore, the report revealed a concerning increase in domestic violence against women, resulting in 320 deaths, 211 injuries, and 147 suicides. This marked a significant rise compared to the same period in the previous year. The report also noted a sharp uptick in child abuse cases, with 1,077 children falling victim to abuse in the first half of 2026.
The HRSS report also highlighted a rise in violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, documenting 50 incidents that left 56 people injured, including attacks on temples, vandalism of idols and houses, land-grabbing cases, and the gang rape of an indigenous woman. The report emphasized an escalation in mob violence incidents, with 261 recorded cases resulting in 133 deaths and 256 injuries, signifying a substantial increase from the previous year.
Moreover, the report outlined a surge in political violence, with 830 incidents leading to 56 fatalities and 5,246 injuries. It further documented 396 cases of electoral violence, resulting in 13 deaths and 2,578 injuries around the 13th national election in February. The organization also reported 200 incidents of attacks and harassment targeting journalists, affecting 383 media workers.
As custodial deaths rose across Bangladesh, the report highlighted that 58 prisoners died in jails nationwide, including both convicted prisoners and detainees. This marked a 45% increase from the previous year. The HRSS urged for zero-tolerance policies against mob violence, prompt trials for cases involving violence against women and children, enhanced victim protection measures, press freedom safeguards, and reforms in cyber laws aligned with human rights principles.
