Bangladesh faces significant challenges with intimate partner violence, as highlighted by global and national data analyses. This form of abuse against women remains pervasive and is a major concern for the country. Despite long-standing awareness of the issue, Bangladesh continues to rank among the countries most affected by domestic violence, with rates surpassing those of neighboring nations. The World Health Organisation’s data places Bangladesh as the 11th country globally for physical and sexual violence by intimate partners, making it the second-worst-affected in South Asia after Afghanistan.
Violence within intimate relationships affects nearly half of women in Bangladesh, according to WHO statistics from 2025. This alarming trend has persisted over the years, indicating a serious ongoing problem. National surveys, including one by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, reveal disturbing figures. The surveys show high percentages of women experiencing various forms of violence from intimate partners, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as controlling behavior.
The Violence Against Women Survey 2024, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, disclosed that a significant portion of women aged 15 and above in Bangladesh have encountered intimate partner violence. Experts emphasize the detrimental impact of such violence, not only causing physical and psychological harm to women but also disrupting families and affecting children’s well-being. The cycle of fear, silence, and inequality perpetuated by intimate partner violence poses long-term challenges across generations, affecting children’s development and mental health.
“My research indicates that children from families where partner violence is common are more susceptible to trauma, fear of intimacy, avoidant behavior, and tendencies towards revenge,” stated Zobaida Nasreen, a professor of anthropology at Dhaka University, as reported by The Daily Star.
