Khwaja Masum Bellah Kausarey: In Bangladesh, rape is no longer an isolated crime; it has become a reflection of systemic failure, a culture of impunity, and a dire crisis of women’s safety. Repeated incidents of rape remind us—there is no safe space for women in this country. The most heartbreaking truth is this: the criminal survives, but the victim and society continue to bleed.
We scream, “We want the rapist hanged,” but the state replies, “It will take time.” We protest, but justice never comes. Because in this country, impunity seems to be a birthright for criminals.
The Stained History of Jahangirnagar— In 1998, a horrifying incident occurred at Jahangirnagar University. A prominent student leader, Jasimu Uddin Manik, publicly boasted that he had raped a young woman “a hundred times” and distributed sweets in celebration. The nation reacted with outrage. On August 2, 1999, massive student protests led to Manik and his associates being expelled from campus. And yet—shockingly—no verdict has ever been delivered. No precedent set. This is a painful example of our justice system, where even a proud rapist roams freely, while the justice process stalls in ambiguity.
Khadija’s Bloodied Face, but a Silent State—October 4, 2016. Khadeja Akhter Nigar, a student at Sylhet Women’s College, was publicly hacked with a machete by Sylhet Chhatra League leader Badrul Alam.
The attack was captured on video and went viral, sparking a public outcry.
Though Khadeja survived, the trial was delayed.
If the brutal attack on a student with an axe in broad daylight doesn’t bring swift justice, on what grounds can we claim women’s safety? Barbarity Against Mother and Daughter in Barishal—
In 2018, in Banaripara, Barishal, a powerful man named Tufan raped and brutally murdered both a mother and her daughter.
Locals protested, but the case gradually faded. No clear progress or updates have been made public.
The slow investigation and the criminal’s influential background prove—rapists know they’ll get away with it.
Tonu Murder—No Safety Even in a Cantonment—
In 2016, Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Victoria College, was raped and murdered inside the Comilla Cantonment area.
Three autopsies confirmed rape, yet no arrests have been made. According to her family, “Investigators know the criminals but are protecting them.” This sends a chilling message—even a military area is unsafe for women in Bangladesh.
Gang Rape in Subarnachar—Politics Casts It’s Shadow
On December 31, 2018, the day after elections, a woman from an opposition party was gang-raped in Subarnachar, Noakhali.
Local political leader Ruhul Amin and his followers were involved. Though the media covered the incident widely, no exemplary punishment followed. The trial stalled under political pressure. Brutality Against Children—A National Shame—
Recently in Dhaka, a 7-year-old child was raped and strangled to death.
In another case, a 3-year-old girl’s genitals were slashed with a blade before being raped and murdered.
These crimes are so barbaric that words fail.
Though arrests were made, justice moves so slowly it feels as though we are giving rapists time to devise escape strategies.
We have laws against rape, but they’re not enforced.
Cases are filed, investigations start, but trials never conclude.
And if they do, they are riddled with delay and compromise.
Statistics Paint a Grim Picture—In 2023, there were 5,191 rape cases filed under the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act.
In 2024, 4,394 such cases were recorded.
Between 2023 and January 2025—just 25 months—there were 9,977 rape cases filed, averaging nearly 13 cases a day.
In January 2025 alone, 392 rape cases were filed—higher than the same month in the previous two years. From 2015–2025, a total of 27,479 rape cases were filed. Between 2020–2023, 632 women were raped in just 153 days. According to Ain-O- Kendra, from 2017–2024, at least 9,677 children faced abuse, with 4,801 of them raped.
Among these, 240 children were raped and murdered—most between the ages of 6 and 12. According to HRSS data from January–February 2025, there were 224 violent incidents, 107 rapes (66 of them minors), and 27 gang rapes. In February 2025, an average of 12 rape cases were filed daily.
The brutal rape and death of an 8-year-old in Magura sparked nationwide protests. Dhaka University students demanded the creation of special tribunals.
Another statistic shows that 98.64% of rape accused are acquitted—only 1.36% are convicted.
Between 2015–2018, out of 4,372 cases, only 5 resulted in conviction.
The trend remains unchanged in 2023–24 and early 2025. Child rape rates are alarmingly increasing.
Over 4,800 children were raped between 2017–2025 alone. Due to this culture of impunity, nearly 99% of the accused walk free.
Why This Culture of Impunity? Political interference, negligence of investigators, lack of witness protection, weak charge sheets, and societal pressure that silences survivors—all contribute to this.
Where Do We Stand Internationally? Countries around the world impose harsh penalties for rape-China: Death penalty without trial, based on medical evidence. Russia: 20 years of hard labor. USA: Up to 30 years, depending on the type of rape and age of the victim. Middle East: Public stoning, genital mutilation, hanging.
Poland: Death by being thrown into a wild boar enclosure.
In Bangladesh, although the maximum punishment is life imprisonment or death, enforcement is weak.
Rapists know—there is no real threat of punishment.
And so, they become bolder. What Must Be Done? We demand—Fast-track tribunals to ensure trials conclude within a specific time.
Not public hanging, but public verdicts and transparency—so the nation sees that justice is served. Witness protection, psychological support and rehabilitation for survivors, and politics-free investigations must be ensured. Consent education should be mandatory in schools and colleges.
Police and doctors dealing with such cases must be given special training and held accountable.
We no longer want to hear “Justice will be served,” while years pass with no verdict. We want a country where a rapist knows—he will not survive this crime.
Where a woman’s eyes reflect confidence, courage, and dignity.
Now is the time—not just for laws, but for enforcement and exemplary punishment.
Otherwise, the next generation will be forced to say: “The rapists live, we are dying.”
Author: The Executive Director of a Nongovernment Research & Development Organization, Journalist, and Human Rights Activist in Bangladesh.
