3 in every 4 women in Bangladesh face violence by intimate partners: BBS survey
Violence also persisted during pregnancy, with 7.2% of women reporting physical and 5.3% reporting sexual violence, posing significant risks to maternal and child health
Three out of every four women in Bangladesh have experienced some form of violence at least once in their lifetime by an intimate partner, according to a new survey.
The full report of the "Violence Against Women Survey 2024", jointly conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was unveiled at an event in Dhaka today (13 October).
The survey revealed that 76% of women have faced physical, sexual, psychological, or economic violence by their husband or intimate partner at some point in their lives. Nearly half (49%) reported experiencing such violence within the past year alone.
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Alarmingly, 62% of survivors never disclosed their experiences to anyone.
BBS said the survey included both UN-defined categories of violence and additional behaviour relevant to Bangladesh's social context.
The data shows that 15% of women aged 15 and above were subjected to physical violence by non-partners, while 2.2% experienced sexual violence by non-partners.
"This is the largest survey of its kind in Bangladesh's history," said BBS Director General Mohammad Mizanur Rahman at the report launch.
"It provides us with reliable data on the prevalence, impact, and patterns of violence, which will guide future policymaking."
He added that BBS plans to strengthen its capacity for collecting gender-based violence data in the coming years.
Although there has been some progress since 2015, when intimate partner violence stood at 66%, now reduced to 49%, the findings show that violence continues to have a deep impact on women's lives.
Most survivors remain reluctant to seek medical or legal support, often due to harmful social norms and fear of social stigma.
More than half of the respondents (54%) reported physical or sexual violence by their husbands during their lifetime, and 60% of those who experienced sexual violence said it occurred multiple times in the past year.
Violence also persisted during pregnancy, with 7.2% of women reporting physical and 5.3% reporting sexual violence, posing significant risks to maternal and child health.
According to the report, mothers-in-law and male relatives were most frequently responsible for non-partner violence, while most incidents of sexual violence were perpetrated by known individuals such as relatives, friends, or acquaintances.
The survey also highlighted that 8.3% of women experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including sexual blackmail, image misuse, and digital surveillance.
Only 14.5% of survivors sought medical assistance, while 7.4% of those abused by husbands pursued legal action, most of whom turned to local leaders rather than formal authorities.
Among survivors of non-partner violence, 3.8% sought legal redress, primarily through the police.
Less than half of women (48.5%) knew where to report incidents, and only 12.3% were aware of the national helpline 109.
The analysis identified dowry practices, substance abuse among husbands, extramarital affairs, and living in urban slums as key factors increasing women's risk of violence. Conversely, higher education among husbands was associated with a lower likelihood of perpetrating abuse.
The report was unveiled by Dr Qayum Ara Begum, member of the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission, as the chief guest.
"The statistics reflect the reality of women's lives in Bangladesh," said UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Catherine Breen Kamkong.
"Thousands of women have bravely shared their experiences, giving us a strong foundation for policy development. What we need now are transformative actions to prevent violence, support survivors, and ensure justice."
A panel discussion followed, featuring Women's Affairs Reform Commission Chairperson Shireen Huq, DIG Dr Shobha Riaz Alam of SPBN, and Professor Dr Sanjida Akhter from Dhaka University's Department of Women and Gender Studies. They emphasised the need for evidence-based policy reform and building a safe society for women and girls as a national priority.
