Dhaka, March 18 (NationPress) Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh has instructed his cabinet ministers and high-ranking government officials to launch a comprehensive national initiative aimed at combating rape and violence against women throughout the nation. He emphasized the necessity for immediate and effective measures to address the alarming increase in such incidents, as reported by local media.

During a press conference, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani revealed that this directive was communicated in a cabinet meeting led by the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

A suo motu directive has been issued concerning both ongoing and past rape cases, with clear instructions for quick action to eradicate these crimes from society, according to The Daily Star.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration is set to implement coordinated, multi-agency strategies designed to prevent these crimes and accelerate the processing of cases currently in the judicial system.

Ghani mentioned that government authorities have been tasked with ensuring rapid investigations and trials by enhancing collaboration among law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary.

He further noted that the aim is to fortify the institutional framework by enhancing district-level courts to enable faster trials.

Reports indicate that law enforcement agencies have anticipated a potential increase in violence against women during the Eid season, prompting the government to enhance preventive measures.

Officials have warned that a rise in such incidents could trigger political unrest, thereby intensifying pressure on the administration during a critical time.

The cabinet also discussed strategies to further bolster existing tribunals that focus on cases of violence against women, pointing out that delays in the judicial process foster a sense of impunity.

This initiative arises amidst broader governmental concerns regarding maintaining public order, ensuring market stability, and safeguarding public safety during the Eid festivities, as highlighted by The Daily Star.

In January, local media, citing police statistics, revealed a worrying increase in crime rates throughout Bangladesh in 2025, with women and children disproportionately affected by the violence. Incidents of murder, banditry, and mob violence were also significantly reported.

Analysts attribute this surge in crime to the law and order challenges faced after the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took control following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.

According to data from Bangladesh's Bengali daily, Bonik Barta, a total of 181,737 cases, including those related to rescues, were recorded in 2025, some of which pertained to incidents from the previous year.

The statistics indicated that the majority of cases involved violence against women and children.

Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in violence against women and children, alongside a deteriorating law and order situation throughout the 18-month term of the Yunus-led interim government.