Rape incidents in 6 months are the same as last year: Mahila Parishad report

A total of 364 rape incidents were reported across the country in 2024 while the number has increased to 354 in the six months from January to June 2025, said a survey.

According to a survey conducted by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, the incidence of some types of crimes of violence against women and children in the first six months of this year was almost the same as last year or in some cases exceeded it. In addition, the incidence of sexual assault and harassment, child marriage and dowry-related violence is higher this year than last year.

This information was given at the publication of the report ‘Violence against Women and Girls in Bangladesh: 2024 Survey’ organized by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Tuesday (August 26).

The programme was held at the Anwara Begum Munira Khan Auditorium of the organization’s central office on Tuesday.

The survey was conducted by the Mahila Parishad based on news published in 14 national dailies. Girls under the age of 18 and women over the age of 18—this is how age-based information is presented. The survey highlights eight crimes separately: rape, gang rape, attempted rape, sexual harassment, child marriage, dowry, domestic violence and cybercrime. The total number of cases of violence against women and children in 2023 was 2,937 and in 2024, it was 2,525 while in the first six months of this year the figure stands at 1,555.

Senior Training and Research Officer of Mahila Parishad Afroza Arman presented various data from the survey at the event. She said that while the number of cybercrimes and domestic violence has decreased slightly in the first six months of this year, others have increased. According to the survey, girls under the age of 18 are more likely to be victims of violence such as rape, sexual harassment and child marriage. It is also said that most of the crimes are committed by those between the ages of 16 and 30. That is, the victims are younger and the accused are younger.

The survey mentioned that from January to December 2024, 364 women were raped, of which 220 were girls and 144 were women. A total od 148 were gang raped, of which 49 were girls and 99 were women while 134 girls and 77 women were murdered after rape. Out of 224, 125 were girls who were victims of sexual assault and harassment. A total of 20 girls were victims of child marriage while 66 women and 2 girls were victims of dowry. A total of 16 girls and 8 women were victims of domestic violence while 26 girls and 3 women were victims of cybercrime.

The survey data shows that 28 percent of the accused in rape cases were between 11 and 30 years old, of which the number was more between 21 and 25 years old. In 14 of the 29 cybercrime incidents, the accused were between 16 and 30 years old. In these incidents, 24 percent were teachers and 31 percent were identified as criminals who harassed women and girls. In gang rape, 42 percent of the accused are strangers to the victim. Upazila-level cases of torture of women and girls are more widely reported in the media. The tendency to file cases after the incident has increased. Various social initiatives to prevent violence against women have also increased somewhat.

Talking about the limitations of the survey, Afroza Arman said that not all information about violence against women and children is published in the media. News of domestic violence among the victims is less published. The age and profession of the victims are not mentioned in that way. Follow-up news of the incident, including legal action and case settlement, are also not available in the media.

At the event, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Fawzia Moslem said that the scope and severity of violence against women and girls in the country has increased. Referring to the survey data, she said that young people are being tortured and the age of the accused is also young. This is worrying. In addition, various studies have shown that the same criminals keep committing crimes again and again. Behind this, the issue of political and ruling party patronage of criminals is involved. Many people in power are also involved in crime.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad General Secretary Maleka Banu said that to reduce the length of cases of violence against women, it is necessary to ensure good governance in the society and bring the concerned persons to account.

According to the study, children are becoming unsafe both at home and outside.

Training and Research Director Shahjadi Shamima Afzali moderated the programme while Mahila Parishad Joint General Secretary Seema Moslem, Training, Research and Library Sub-committee Secretary Reena Ahmed, Legal Aid Secretary Rekha Saha, Legal Advocacy and Lobby Director Deepti Sikder, among others, spoke.