At least 252 women and girls were subjected to various forms of violence across Bangladesh in August, according to data compiled by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. The figures include 55 cases of murder and 54 cases of rape, with girls accounting for 36 of the reported rape victims.
The organisation disclosed the figures in a statement issued on Tuesday, 1 September.
According to the statement, the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad compiled its monthly data from reports published in 15 national newspapers and two online news outlets, which are kept on record by its central legal aid subcommittee. The figures therefore reflect cases reported in the monitored media rather than a complete count of all incidents that occurred across the country during the month.
Of the 252 women and girls reported to have experienced violence in August, 134 were women and 118 were girls. Among the 55 victims of murder, 45 were women and 10 were girls.
Rape accounted for another major category of reported violence. Of the 54 rape victims, 18 were women and 36 were girls. Thirteen people, including eight girls, were reported to have been subjected to gang rape.
Two victims, including one girl, were reportedly killed after being raped. The report also recorded 14 attempted rape cases, involving 11 girls and three women.
Sexual violence remained another significant concern during the month. A total of 30 people, including 24 girls, were reported to have experienced sexual violence. Among them, 14 were victims of sexual abuse, including 12 girls, while nine people, including eight girls, were subjected to harassment.
The report also documented cases of cyber violence. Seven people were reported to have been victims, four of them girls.
Beyond these categories, the Mahila Parishad recorded a range of other forms of violence against women and girls during August. These included attempted murder, burning, suicide, abuse of domestic workers, domestic violence, child marriage and abduction.
The figures underline the wide range of risks faced by women and children, while the relatively high proportion of girls among reported rape and sexual violence victims highlights particular concerns surrounding child safety. Violence against children can have lasting physical, psychological and social consequences, making timely protection, access to legal assistance and appropriate support services crucial for survivors.
The Mahila Parishad’s monitoring also illustrates the limitations of media-based data. Incidents that are not reported by newspapers or online outlets may not appear in such monthly counts. As a result, the figures should be viewed as a record of reported cases rather than a definitive measure of the total scale of violence.
Still, the August data provide a significant snapshot of violence against women and girls in Bangladesh, with rape, sexual abuse, murder, domestic violence and other forms of abuse continuing to feature prominently in reported incidents.
