24 rape cases in 9 days: How Bangladesh is grappling with explosive rise in crime against women

Image used for representational purpose.

Bangladesh is witnessing a disturbing wave of sexual violence against women, with at least 24 reported rape cases in just nine days between June 20 and 29. While the country has long grappled with gender-based violence, the recent spike — including several horrific gang-rape incidents and cases involving minority women — has ignited public outrage and intensified scrutiny of systemic failures in justice and protection.

Surge in sexual violence

Civil society groups and local media have described the surge in rape cases as reaching "pandemic-level." The Dhaka Tribune reported 24 rape cases in just over a week — and those are only the ones reported to the media or police.

One of the most chilling cases occurred in Bhola district on June 29, where a woman was reportedly gang-raped while her husband was held captive and tortured by associates of his third wife. Seven individuals, some linked to political wings of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were arrested. On the same day, another woman from the Hindu minority community in Cumilla was raped by a neighbour while visiting her father’s home. The accused, Fazor Ali, reportedly tortured her, and four others were arrested for filming and circulating the assault video.

These crimes have left the nation shaken, but activists say this is far from new — it is a manifestation of years of impunity and social degradation.

Minorities bear the brunt

While the epidemic of rape affects women across the country, those from religious minorities, especially Hindus, are particularly vulnerable. In many cases, survivors face not only physical violence but also social ostracism and threats of forced conversion or displacement.

Human rights groups say the actual number of cases involving minority women is likely higher, but systemic discrimination and fear of reprisal prevent many from reporting crimes. The brutal assault in Cumilla underscores this vulnerability — a lone Hindu woman violated in her own home, with her dignity further shattered by public humiliation via viral videos.

Numbers tell a grim story

According to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a Bangladeshi legal aid and human rights group, 4,787 rapes were reported in the media between January 2020 and September 2024. Disturbingly, over 60 per cent of the victims were minors, including 47 per cent aged 13–18. These figures reflect only media-reported cases; legal experts believe the real numbers are much higher.

Speaking to Asia News Network, Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna stated bluntly: “The actual number is much higher. We rely on newspaper data. If victims don’t come to police, their pain never enters the official record.”

Even in the reported cases, justice is elusive. Fewer than 3,500 cases saw formal complaints filed. Of these, only a fraction progress to conviction — often delayed beyond the mandated 180-day trial period. “Why would a victim report the crime when they know the system will fail them?” asked barrister Jyotirmoy Barua while speaking to the news outlet.

Government admits systemic failure, vows quick response

In the face of public anger and student protests, particularly from Dhaka University, the government has acknowledged the scale of the crisis. Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, admitted: “Governments have come and gone, but none have been able to tackle the issue.”

She cited societal collapse — drugs, pornography, and lack of regulation — as drivers of the crisis. “A 10-year-old sexually assaulted a toddler. He doesn’t even know what he did. We must accept this is a social emergency.”

To address this, Murshid announced the formation of quick response teams at the district level under local administrators. She also proposed monitoring madrasas to prevent sexual abuse and emphasized the need to restrict children's access to pornography.

However, critics argue these are reactive measures and fail to address the root issues: a lack of accountability in law enforcement, political interference, weak prosecution, and the widespread societal normalization of violence against women.