Over 2,000 Women and Children Abused in Six Months

A chilling escalation of violence against women and children has been documented in Bangladesh over the first half of this year. According to an alarming mid-year report published on Wednesday, 15 July, by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), at least 2,025 women and children fell victim to rape, domestic abuse, and severe physical violence between January and June.

The data indicates a sharp deterioration in safety, with abuse cases targeting women and young girls rising by approximately 56 per cent. Over the last six months, 1,621 women and young girls suffered various forms of physical violence, compared to 1,042 during the same period in 2025.

Among these offences, 404 individuals were raped, with children and teenagers accounting for 238 of those cases. This sexual violence often culminated in extreme brutality, resulting in 17 victims being murdered following their assaults. The rights watchdog also recorded 88 instances of gang rape and 476 cases of sexual harassment.

Other forms of systemic violence continue to claim lives across the country. Dowry disputes led to the deaths of 19 women, whilst eight suffered injuries, and three took their own lives due to harassment. Domestic abuse within families also proved catastrophic. The report documents that 320 women were killed in domestic disputes, 211 suffered physical injuries, and 147 took their own lives to escape constant torment. Additionally, four women sustained severe injuries in targeted acid attacks.

The statistics regarding children are equally horrifying. A total of 1,077 children faced severe abuse during the first half of the year, with 305 of them losing their lives. A further 772 children endured severe physical and psychological trauma. These numbers represent a dramatic spike from the first half of 2025, which saw 673 cases of child abuse and 132 deaths.

To provide a clear comparison of the escalating crisis, the key metrics from the HRSS findings have been compiled below:

The HRSS compiled these statistics by reviewing reports from 16 mainstream national daily newspapers, along with its own independent investigations and fact-finding assessments.

Expressing grave concern over the findings, the Executive Director of the HRSS, Ejajul Islam, warned that the human rights situation will continue to disintegrate if structural issues remain unaddressed. He pointed out that political friction, vigilante mob justice, deaths in custody, and violence against journalists and labourers must be dealt with swiftly. Establishing the rule of law, strengthening democratic institutions, and fostering collective social resistance are vital to curbing this rising tide of violence.