The crisis has been compounded by the rise of hardline Islamist groups since the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long rule. Women’s rights activists warn that these groups are contributing to an atmosphere of communalism and hostility towards women, exacerbating their vulnerability.
Bangladesh is in the grip of a disturbing escalation of rape and other forms of violence against women and girls, with rights groups, police and government officials describing the situation as nothing short of a national crisis.
Reports compiled by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad reveal that in the last month alone more than 223 women and girls across the country were subjected to violence, with murder and rape making up the majority of cases. At least 115 women and girls were either murdered or raped during this period, underscoring the alarming scale of gender-based violence.
The figures, disclosed in a statement signed by Mahila Parishad General Secretary Maleka Banu, were based on reports published in 15 daily newspapers. The organisation stressed that women continued to face abuse in multiple forms, from domestic violence to abduction, trafficking and forced marriage.
Dramatic Spike in Sexual Violence
Bangladesh’s leading women’s rights group sounded the alarm on 27 August, citing a dramatic surge in sexual assault cases and blaming worsening security conditions for the rise. Fauzia Moslem, president of the Mahila Parishad, warned that the number of rapes recorded in the first six months of 2025 had nearly matched the total for all of 2024, which itself was a year marred by political turmoil and mass protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government in August.
“Violence against women increases when there is a deterioration of law and order,” Moslem said, cautioning that there was a “deliberate attempt in society to create an anti-women atmosphere.”
The organisation’s findings, based on newspaper monitoring, showed that 364 rapes were reported in 2024 compared with 354 cases in just the first half of 2025. Activists believe the true numbers are significantly higher, with stigma, fear of reprisals and mistrust of law enforcement deterring many victims from coming forward.
Police statistics reinforce these warnings. More than 11,000 women and children experienced repression of various forms in the first half of 2025, up from just over 9,000 during the same period the previous year. While police did not comment specifically on the spike in sexual violence, spokesperson A H M Sahadat Hossaine admitted that the wider deterioration in security was deeply troubling. “This is a crisis situation, and the police are trying their best to rein it in,” he said.
Widespread Alarm and Protests
Other rights groups, including Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), have also echoed these concerns. “The situation is undoubtedly alarming,” said ASK coordinator Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir. “What we are seeing is very different from what we expected after a revolution overturned the governance structure.”
The crisis has been compounded by the rise of hardline Islamist groups since the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long rule. Women’s rights activists warn that these groups are contributing to an atmosphere of communalism and hostility towards women, exacerbating their vulnerability. With national elections due in February 2026, the first since the mass uprising last year, fears are growing that women’s rights could be further compromised.
Public anger reached boiling point in late June after 24 rapes were reported between 20 and 29 June alone. One of the most harrowing incidents occurred in Bhola district, where a woman was gang raped while her husband was held captive and tortured by the perpetrators, said to be linked to his third wife. In another case, attackers assaulted a Hindu minority woman in Cumilla, filmed the crime and circulated the footage online, intensifying trauma for both the victim and her community.
Outraged by such brutality, protesters flooded the streets of Dhaka and other cities, demanding justice and accountability. Demonstrations, led by student groups, women’s collectives and civil society organisations, accused authorities of failing to protect women and allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
Pandemic-Level Crisis
Senior government adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid described the escalation as a “pandemic-level crisis,” blaming systemic social decay and calling for urgent reforms. “Governments have come and gone, but none have been able to tackle the issue effectively,” she said.
In an attempt to assuage public anger, the government announced the formation of quick response teams at the sub-district (Upazila) level. These teams, comprising police, medical staff and legal officers, are tasked with acting within 24 hours of receiving reports. Officials hope the initiative will prevent the delays that have historically allowed perpetrators to escape justice.
However, widespread scepticism remains. Chronic staff shortages and resource constraints have plagued government efforts for years. Women’s rights defenders warn that without deeper structural reforms, quick response teams risk becoming another symbolic gesture rather than a meaningful solution.
Systemic Failures
Experts point to a confluence of factors behind the crisis: entrenched patriarchy, political interference shielding offenders, rampant drug abuse, the unregulated spread of mobile phones and internet pornography, and weak law enforcement. A Ministry of Women and Children Affairs survey shows the scale of the problem: between January 2020 and September 2024, a woman was raped on average every nine hours. Children made up nearly 60 per cent of victims in recent years.
The ministry’s toll-free helpline has received more than 281,000 complaints related to violence against women and children in just the past year. Meanwhile, a national survey revealed that 70 per cent of Bangladeshi women have experienced intimate partner violence, with 41 per cent suffering such abuse in the past year alone.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Activists stress that prevention must accompany punishment. They are calling for expanded education campaigns on gender equality and consent, as well as specialised courts to fast-track cases of sexual violence. International organisations, including Amnesty International, have urged Bangladesh to take urgent and comprehensive measures to protect its women and girls.
For many survivors and their families, however, justice remains elusive. Protests are set to continue until meaningful reforms are enacted. As one demonstrator in Dhaka declared, “The safety and dignity of half the population cannot be negotiable. Bangladesh must choose whether it will stand with its women or abandon them.”
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