Violence against women and children is rising sharply in Bangladesh, the Awami League claimed, accusing the government of failing to maintain public safety….reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh’s Awami League on Friday raised alarm over what it described as a growing collapse in public safety amid a surge in violence against women and children across the country.
The party claimed women and children were increasingly living in fear as reports of rape, gang rape, sexual assault and killings linked to such crimes continued to emerge nationwide.
In a statement, the Awami League accused the current Tarique Rahman led Bangladesh Nationalist Party government of failing to maintain law and order and protect vulnerable citizens.
“The current government continues to issue stern warnings and ‘zero tolerance’ rhetoric. But for the grieving mothers and traumatised children of this nation, these words have lost all meaning,” the party said.
“If the state’s primary function is the protection of its most vulnerable citizens, then the BNP government is not just failing, it is presiding over a collapse of social order,” it added.
The Awami League questioned the government’s ability to guarantee public safety, particularly for children travelling to school and women in public spaces.
The party cited figures from Dhaka based rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra, which reported 35 rape cases in January 2026, including 10 gang rapes. According to the data, 13 of the victims were aged 12 or younger.
The Awami League also referred to statistics from Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, which documented 31 rape cases during the same period.
According to ASK data cited by the party, 776 rape cases were reported over roughly 13 months leading up to early 2026, with nearly half involving minors.
The statement further claimed that dozens of additional incidents, including deaths linked to sexual violence, had been reported during January and February this year.
The Awami League said one of the most concerning aspects of the rise in violence was the increasing number of child victims.
“In 2025, nearly 70 per cent of all rape victims were girls under the age of 18. This is not a mere crime wave, it is a fundamental breakdown of the moral and legal fabric of society,” the statement said.
The party also referred to findings by rights groups that reportedly showed a nearly 75 per cent rise in child rape cases in early 2026 compared with the same period in 2024.
According to the Awami League, the increase in violence reflected a broader failure of governance and accountability.
“This is no longer a ‘women’s issue’. It is a crisis of governance, justice, and national character,” the statement said.
The party also called on international organisations, donor agencies and global institutions to push for stronger accountability and measurable improvements in protection for women and children in Bangladesh.
Violence against women and children has remained a major issue in Bangladesh for several years, with rights organisations frequently calling for stronger enforcement, faster judicial processes and improved victim protection measures.
