At least 261 women and girls were subjected to various forms of violence across Bangladesh in October 2026, according to a monthly report by the Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), cited by local media. The findings paint a stark picture of escalating abuse targeting women, children, minority communities, and media professionals across the country.

Violence Against Women and Children

The HRSS report documented 82 rape cases during October, with 42 of the victims being children. Of those raped, five were subsequently murdered and one died by suicide. The report further recorded 72 cases of sexual harassment and nine deaths linked to dowry-related violence.

Domestic violence claimed the lives of 47 women, while 21 others died by suicide during the same period. Separately, 38 children lost their lives to violence and 163 others faced abuse, according to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, which cited the HRSS findings.

Attacks on Minority Communities and Places of Worship

The report highlighted ongoing targeting of religious minority communities, documenting four incidents in which seven idols and three homesteads were vandalised in October. Two shrines — located in Sherpur and Thakurgaon — were also reportedly attacked during the month. This comes amid broader concerns about the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh that rights groups have flagged repeatedly in recent quarters.

Journalists Under Attack

Media freedom deteriorated sharply, with at least 46 journalists subjected to attacks or harassment across 28 separate incidents in October. One journalist was killed, 31 were injured, and another faced a defamation lawsuit. Notably, 15 incidents involving restrictions on freedom of expression led to 20 arrests and the filing of 15 cases. Among those targeted, two individuals faced lawsuits for criticising the Prime Minister, while five others were arrested on allegations of 'hurting religious sentiments'. One person was reportedly beaten to death over social media posts, and a separate arrest was made under Bangladesh's Cyber Protection Act.

Mob Violence and Labour Abuses

The HRSS documented 33 incidents of mob beatings — over allegations of theft, robbery, and mugging — that claimed at least 22 lives and left 20 others injured. An additional 22 incidents of mob violence resulted in one death and 36 injuries.

Labour-related abuses were also extensive: 71 incidents claimed 23 lives and left 134 workers injured. A further 38 workers died in workplace accidents during the month.

Quarterly Figures Reinforce the Trend

The October findings are consistent with a deteriorating trend tracked across the third quarter. The HRSS earlier reported that 783 women faced violence and 733 children suffered abuse between July and September 2026. Its quarterly report documented at least 253 women and girls raped in that period — including 154 minors — with 42 cases of gang rape, 12 killed after being raped, and one death by suicide. Sexual harassment affected 220 others, including 103 children, during the same window. The cumulative data suggests the violence is systemic rather than episodic, and rights groups are calling for urgent institutional intervention.