At least 249 women and children were subjected to violence across Bangladesh in August 2024, including 79 rape cases, according to a report by the Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). The findings, released on Thursday and cited by The Daily Star, paint a grim picture of compounding abuse — from sexual violence and domestic killings to mob beatings and attacks on journalists.

Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse

Of the 79 rape cases, 46 victims were children, while 18 women and girls were subjected to gangrape. The HRSS additionally documented sexual harassment of 93 women and girls, including 38 children.

Dowry-related violence claimed the lives of six women, left seven injured, and drove one to suicide. Domestic violence was even deadlier: 49 women died, 31 sustained injuries, and 23 died by suicide. The figures underscore what rights advocates describe as a systemic failure to protect women within households.

Political Violence Surges in August

The report documented 70 incidents of political violence in August — a sharp rise from 45 incidents in July — leaving at least seven people dead and more than 536 leaders, activists, and members of the public injured. Notably, internal conflicts within the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) accounted for 20 of those incidents, resulting in five deaths and injuries to at least 152 people. The intra-party violence signals deepening factional tensions within the BNP at a particularly sensitive political juncture.

Mob Violence Claims 28 Lives

The HRSS expressed grave concern over a surge in mob violence, documenting 53 incidents in August in which at least 28 people were killed and 62 others injured. The incidents arose from allegations ranging from theft and robbery to arguments, assertions of dominance, and accusations of religious defamation. Rights groups warn that extrajudicial mob beatings reflect a breakdown in community trust in formal law enforcement.

Press Freedom Under Pressure

August also saw significant pressure on media workers. The HRSS recorded attacks and harassment involving at least 45 journalists across 32 incidents. Five journalists were detained, and one faced legal action over a published news report — a pattern that critics argue is chilling independent reporting at a critical moment for Bangladesh's democracy.

Rights Body Warns of Further Deterioration

HRSS Executive Director Ijajul Islam said August witnessed 'a disturbing wave of violence and rights violations across Bangladesh, ranging from political and campus violence to mob beatings, attacks on journalists, interference with free expression, violence against women and children, and labour abuses.' He warned: 'If these issues are not addressed, the rights situation may deteriorate further,' according to The Daily Star.

The HRSS compiled its findings from news published in 16 local media outlets alongside its own field investigations. The report was issued as a press release on Thursday. With violence across multiple fronts showing month-on-month escalation, rights organisations are calling for urgent institutional intervention before conditions worsen further.