Human rights organizations have strongly criticized the rape and murder of an eight-year-old schoolgirl, Ramisa Akter, in Dhaka. The incident, which occurred in the Pallabi area on May 19, where Ramisa was raped and beheaded by her neighbor Sohel Rana, has exposed significant flaws in Bangladesh’s child protection system. The Coalition for Advancing Equality and Justice emphasized the urgent need for thorough investigations and severe punishment for the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
The Coalition for Advancing Equality and Justice highlighted the broader issue of children’s safety and emphasized the importance of protecting their rights to grow up free from violence. Prominent human rights bodies, including Breaking the Silence, JAAGO Foundation, and Save the Children in Bangladesh, among others, have joined forces to demand comprehensive reforms in Bangladesh’s child protection mechanisms. They have called for the establishment of an independent Child Reform Commission and the enactment of laws to prevent sexual harassment.
Furthermore, Dhaka-based rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed deep concern over the alarming statistics of child abuse in Bangladesh. ASK reported that between January 1 and May 20, 2026, 118 children were raped, 46 faced attempted rape, and 17 were killed after rape or attempted rape. The group highlighted the failure of the state protection system and the urgent need for effective measures to ensure justice for the victims of such atrocities.
The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) in Dhaka condemned the recurring incidents of child rape, murder, and abuse, citing the inadequacy of existing child protection mechanisms. HRSS emphasized that the rise in violence against children in Bangladesh is fueled by impunity, delays in the justice system, and ineffective law enforcement. They underscored the urgent need for societal and moral values to address the escalating violence against children in the country.
