Bangladesh is recording a sharp and sustained rise in violence against women and children, with multiple alleged rape and attempted rape incidents reported across several districts in a single week, triggering grave concern from UNICEF and human rights organisations. The incidents, reported from Chuadanga, Jashore, Kushtia, and Cumilla, point to a deepening public safety crisis that has persisted across successive administrations in Dhaka.

Key Incidents Reported

In Chuadanga's Damurhuda Upazila, police arrested Tarikul Islam, 20, over the alleged rape of a 71-year-old woman. The arrest was made during an early-morning operation at the School Mor area of the village on Monday.

In Jashore, a youth identified as Jayanta Biswas was arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a nine-year-old girl in Sagardari village, Keshabpur upazila. Sub-inspector Shamim Hossain was quoted as saying: 'Jayanta Biswas has been arrested on charges of raping the minor girl. The child is now in police custody. Legal action is underway in this regard.'

A separate incident in Kumarkhali upazila, Kushtia, involved the alleged rape of a minor schoolboy by a mango orchard caretaker on Sunday morning. Notably, local influential figures in Kushtia reportedly attempted to resolve the matter through village arbitration — a move that drew sharp criticism from rights groups.

In Cumilla, police on Sunday arrested shopkeeper Delwar Hossain, 43, accused of attempting to rape a 12-year-old boy inside his shop in Daudkandi upazila. The court subsequently sent him to judicial custody; the incident is said to have occurred on 18 May.

UNICEF Raises Alarm

Last week, UNICEF expressed grave concern over the surge in brutal violence against children across Bangladesh, including rape and killing of girls and boys in places meant to ensure their safety. Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, said the growing number of reports of brutal and sexual violence against women and children in 2026 underscored the urgent need to strengthen child and gender-based violence prevention measures nationwide.

In a statement, Flowers said: 'The culture of impunity enjoyed by perpetrators must end, and the gaps in prevention, reporting, institutional safeguarding, child-friendly police and justice, community protection and social services must be addressed. There is also a need for psychosocial support for the women and children, with far stronger accountability of schools, madrasas, workplaces, neighbourhoods and care settings.'

A Crisis Spanning Two Administrations

The surge in gender-based violence reportedly persisted through the 18-month tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has continued under the current Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration. This continuity across governments suggests the problem is structural rather than a product of any single political moment.

Critics argue that institutional safeguards — including police response protocols, judicial timelines, and community-level protection mechanisms — have consistently failed to keep pace with reported incidents. The attempt to settle the Kushtia case through informal arbitration illustrates the accountability gap that rights organisations have long flagged.

What Needs to Happen Next

UNICEF's statement calls for systemic reform across schools, madrasas, workplaces, and care settings, alongside dedicated psychosocial support for survivors. Human rights organisations are pressing the BNP administration for a credible national action plan with measurable outcomes. Whether Dhaka responds with policy action or rhetoric will determine whether 2026 marks a turning point or another year of unaddressed escalation.