Bangladesh records 5,448 violence cases against women, children in 3 months
Synopsis
Bangladesh recorded 5,448 cases of violence against women and children in just three months — yet in Dhaka alone, charge sheets were filed in fewer than 1 in 6 cases. With legal investigation deadlines routinely missed and a new government under scrutiny, the data reveals a justice system struggling to match the scale of the crisis.
Key Takeaways
5,448 cases of violence against women and children were registered under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act between March and May 2025 .
Of 413 cases in Dhaka metropolitan areas, charge sheets were filed in only 65 — fewer than one in six — within three months.
178 rape cases were recorded across 50 DMP police stations , with 115 women and 63 children among the victims.
Bangladesh law requires investigations to be completed within 15 working days , but the deadline is seldom met.
Lawmaker Rumeen Farhana cited TIB data showing 3,496 abuse cases — including up to 102 rapes and 71 child rapes — in the BNP government's first 100 days .
Bangladesh registered at least 5,448 cases of violence against women and children under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act between March and May 2025, according to police headquarters data cited by local media. The figures point to a deepening crisis of gender-based violence across the country, with investigators struggling to keep pace with the caseload.
Scale of the Crisis
Of the 413 cases filed in Dhaka metropolitan areas during this period, police submitted charge sheets in only 65 cases within three months, according to a report in Bangladesh's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo. A further 10 cases were closed with final reports after investigations found no involvement of the accused.
Within the 50 police stations under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), 178 rape cases were recorded, with 115 victims identified as women and 63 as children.
Investigations Stalled for Months, Even Years
Reports indicate that many rape and murder cases remain stalled at the investigation stage for months and, in some instances, years. Bangladeshi law mandates that investigations be completed within 15 working days, but that deadline is seldom met in practice.
Crime experts noted that investigations tend to move faster when incidents receive widespread media coverage or attract the attention of human rights organisations. Cases that stay out of the public spotlight, they warned, frequently fail to progress at all.
Political Dimensions
The Awami League on Thursday expressed grave concern over women's safety, highlighting that reports of harassment, violence, and insecurity continue to emerge from across the country — from public transport to workplaces and busy streets. The party cited critics who pointed to a 'troubling pattern', alleging that women have faced heightened risks of 'abuse, intimidation, and violence' whenever the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been in power.
'The safety of women and girls is not a political issue. It is a fundamental responsibility of the state. Every daughter deserves to walk the streets without fear. Every woman deserves security, dignity, and justice,' the Awami League posted on X.
Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over BNP's First 100 Days
Earlier this month, Bangladeshi independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana voiced serious concern over the worsening law and order situation, citing statistics from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). She said incidents of murder, abduction, and violence against women had surged during the Tarique Rahman-led BNP government's first 100 days in office.
According to the figures she cited, 3,496 cases of abuse were reported during that period, including 78–102 rapes, 30–36 gang rapes, and 49–71 child rapes. 'These figures clearly show how fragile and alarming the law and order situation has become in just three months,' The Daily Star quoted her as saying.
What Comes Next
The data underscores a systemic gap between the volume of cases being filed and the state's capacity — or willingness — to prosecute them. Advocates and opposition voices are calling for independent oversight of investigations and stricter enforcement of the 15-working-day investigation deadline. Whether the current administration responds with structural reform or political deflection will define the next chapter of this crisis.
Point of View
448 figure is alarming, but the charge-sheet rate — 65 out of 413 Dhaka cases — is the more damning number. It signals not just investigative overload but a structural accountability gap that predates any single government. The Awami League's political framing of the data, blaming BNP, risks reducing a systemic failure to a partisan talking point. The real question is why Bangladesh has never enforced its own 15-working-day investigation rule at scale, regardless of who holds power. Until that changes, case registration numbers will keep rising while conviction rates stay low.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cases of violence against women and children were registered in Bangladesh between March and May 2025?
At least 5,448 cases were registered under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act between March and May 2025, according to police headquarters data cited by local media. The figure reflects a continuing rise in reported gender-based violence across the country.
Why are so many cases stalled at the investigation stage in Bangladesh?
Reports indicate that investigations are frequently delayed well beyond the legally mandated 15-working-day deadline, with some cases remaining unresolved for months or even years. Crime experts say cases tend to move faster only when they receive significant media coverage or draw attention from human rights organisations.
What did lawmaker Rumeen Farhana say about violence against women under the BNP government?
Rumeen Farhana, citing Transparency International Bangladesh data, said 3,496 abuse cases were reported in the BNP government's first 100 days, including 78–102 rapes, 30–36 gang rapes, and 49–71 child rapes. She described the law and order situation as 'fragile and alarming'.
What has the Awami League said about women's safety in Bangladesh?
The Awami League expressed grave concern, alleging a 'troubling pattern' of heightened risks for women whenever the BNP has been in power. In a post on X, the party stated that women's safety is 'a fundamental responsibility of the state' and called for security, dignity, and justice for all women.
What is the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act in Bangladesh?
It is a Bangladeshi law under which cases of violence, rape, and abuse against women and children are registered and prosecuted. The law mandates that police complete investigations within 15 working days, though that deadline is reportedly met in only a fraction of cases.
