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In Bangladesh, women and girls have been facing different types of violence and oppression for a long time. Deeply ingrained patriarchy, misguided religious interpretations, weakened law enforcement, and growing social anxiety after the July Uprising in 2024 all contributed to the alarming rise in violence against women in Bangladesh between August 2024 and June 2025. This violence included rape, sexual harassment, domestic and mob violence, bullying, and other forms of abuse. 8,307 cases were filed between August 2024 and January 2025 alone after a political changeover on August 5, following a mass uprising, according to official records of Police Headquarters. 

In the first two months of 2025, at least 224 women and girls experienced violence, including 107 rapes (involving 66 minors), 27 gang rapes, 29 sexual harassments, six dowry-related deaths, 58 intimate partner deaths, one acid attack death, and 20 abuse-related suicides according to Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) data reported by The Daily Star. Prominent incidents, such as the moral policing in Cox’s Bazar, the DU employee’s harassment over dress up, and the rape and death of an eight-year-old in Magura in March 2025, provoked protests and anger across the country. The media's trivialization of harassment, religiously motivated intolerance against women's autonomy, patriarchal norms that see women as inferior, and societal dread in the wake of a revolution are some of the elements that underlie these tendencies. 

A group of people who claim themselves as “Tawhidi Janata” or “Conscious Muslim Citizens”, the religiously motivated masses mobilized in the name of Islamic unity or defending Islamic values, has almost legalized harassment of women in the name of “moral policing”. Though this event is not new in this subcontinent, after August 2024, the moral policing of women has significantly increased in the name of Tawhidi Janata. Another disturbing phenomenon is that the accused persons are arrested after the incident goes viral on social media, but in just a few days they are bailed out without any hassle. Some of the accused are even welcomed with flowers in the guise of a hero and given a speech in their defense by justifying their actions. Even after being bailed out, the accused in Cox’s Bazar were posted on social media by justifying their action with a threat to those who don’t support their action. There are some exceptions, the rapist of 8 years old from Magura got sentenced to death by a judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. 

The Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, a reform initiative by the interim government of Bangladesh aimed at improving the situation of women and advancing their rights, was severely criticized and backlashed by the Tawhidi Janata or religiously motivated groups. The commission’s report was submitted to the Chief Adviser, like 10 other reform commissions. But no other report created controversy like this one. Three specific recommendations have sparked intense public debate. These include: ensuring equal rights for women of all religions through a uniform family law, granting equal inheritance rights to women, and recognizing sex workers as laborers under labor laws. Protests all over the country spread like fire. Hefazat-e-Islam, IslamiAndolan Bangladesh, and other Islamist groups called for a march for the disbandment of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission. Hate speech in public space, addressing the ladies as “call girls” and “prostitutes”, is an example of the growing conservative backlash, which displays ingrained opposition to the advancement of women's independence. On March 1, 2025, two ladies were attacked by a group of men who were angry because they were smoking at a tea shop in the Lalmatia neighborhood of the capital. Samina Lutfa, an associate professor of sociology at Dhaka University, described recent acts of violence against women as horrifying and claimed that the interim administration had failed terribly to protect women's safety. Members of the civil society are now concerned that the unfavorable attitude society has toward women needs to change to end violence against women and girls. The offenders must be held accountable, women must be taught to be self-sufficient, and resistance must be developed.

The shocking thing is that nowadays, victim blaming has become the cheapest thing to justify the accused's actions. The Muradnagar rape case on June 16, 2025, is the perfect example of this. The victim is currently facing allegations of an extramarital affair with the rapist and she went to the police to withdraw the case filled. Surprisingly, a group of people is also supporting this claim on social media. Whenever a woman speaks for her rights, she is called a prostitute, body shamed, or gets threats to herself along with her family online and offline. Online harassment is very common, including body shaming, slutshaming, and comments on dress-up. Taking screenshots and recording videos without permission and posting those on a public platform or social media to defame a woman has become a sick practice.

A female photojournalist named Jannatul Ferdous Lucky got backlash and faced harsh words from men while taking photos of an Islamist rally in support of Gaza in the capital city of Dhaka. The protestors of “March for Gaza” commented that they didn't want to be photographed by a female photographer. In January 2025, a group of people under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ brought out a demand for closure in Dinajpur, and demanded that the women's cricket match be stopped at the field. Although the match took place later, a similar occurrence happened in Rangpur. After August 2024, similar harassment and protests against women are seen everywhere in the country. All things considered, this era shows not only concerning statistics but also a social tension where growing calls for women's rights clash with conservative resistance, leading to ongoing violence and impunity in a variety of fields. Established patriarchy, misguided religious interpretations, lax implementation of protective laws, and a sociopolitical environment of instability and uncertainty in the wake of the July Revolution are all factors contributing to this spike. 

The adviser of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs stated that efforts will be made throughout the year to build resistance against violence towards women and children. The objective is to protect women and establish an atmosphere free from violence. Also, year-long efforts will be made to strengthen the opposition to violence against women and children in any form. The advisor also assured that in the event of such an emergency, a rapid reaction system will be implemented.  A quick response team will be sent out within 24 hours of any violence against women or children occurring anywhere in the nation.  Officials must also reach the union and village levels; they cannot stay only in the district or upazila offices. At least this is a tiny ray of hope for the women and children of this country. 

Yet the current state of affairs shows that although legal frameworks and public awareness have improved, these developments are nevertheless brittle in the face of growing conservative backlash and structural inequity, calling for an immediate, multi-sectoral approach to justice, protection, and prevention. So, the question remains, can the interim solve this issue before ending their term?

Really Chakma is a Research Assistant at Centre for Governance Studies (CGS)

Disclaimer: Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy.