7 in 10 women in Bangladesh faced intimate partner violence: Study

Intimate partner violence is widespread in Bangladesh, with 70% of women experiencing at least one form – physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or controlling behaviour – during their lifetime, according to a new survey of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). 

BBS also reports that 41% of women have faced such violence in the past 12 months.  

In collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Bangladesh, the bureau presented its key findings at the 2024 Violence Against Women Survey dissemination event today (27 February). 

This landmark survey, the third of its kind following those in 2011 and 2015, highlights the prevalence of various forms of violence experienced at least once by ever-married women aged 15 and above, distinguishing between lifetime prevalence and the past 12 months, using both UN standards and local context.  

The data span three survey years: 2011, 2015 and 2024. While most forms of violence have declined, particularly in the past 12 months, controlling behaviour, emotional violence and economic violence remain high. 

Intimate partner violence rates are higher when measured through using local context compared to UN standards. The 2024 survey recorded fewer instances of economic violence than in 2015, aligning with both international and local standards.  

According to UN measures, which are used for global monitoring, the figures are even higher when additional acts of violence relevant to Bangladesh's context are considered – 76% for lifetime prevalence and 49% for the past 12 months.  

Lifetime intimate partner violence prevalence remains high at 70%, with 41% reporting such violence in the past 12 months. 

The survey also highlights the fact that intimate partner violence is more prevalent than non-partner violence. In this context, "intimate partners" refer to current or former husbands, while "non-partners" are individuals other than a current or former husband with whom the respondent has had contact since age 15.  

A total of 27,476 women were interviewed across the country out of a sample size of 28,800, achieving a 95.4% response rate. Ever-married women made up the majority of the sample.  

Over half of all women, 54%, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their husbands in their lifetime, with 16% facing such violence in the past year. Controlling behaviour and emotional violence were the most prevalent forms, highlighting the critical concern of psychological violence.  

The survey also revealed that women are three times more likely to experience physical violence and over 14 times more likely to suffer sexual violence from their husbands than from anyone else, indicating a significantly higher risk of physical and sexual violence within marital relationships.  

The survey also highlighted significant disparities in vulnerability, with women in disaster-prone areas facing a higher risk of intimate partner violence both in their lifetime and in the past 12 months, compared to those in non-disaster-prone areas.  

Despite widespread intimate partner violence (IPV), 64% of survivors did not disclose their experiences, citing reasons such as protecting family reputation, concerns for their children's well-being, and viewing the violence as normal.  

The report provides a national overview of IPV prevalence among ever-married women aged 15 and above, disaggregated by form of violence, and includes detailed insights by residence, administrative division, and disaster-prone regions.  

The data shows that while physical violence in the past 12 months is low, 47% of women have experienced it in their lifetime. Sexual violence affects 29% of women lifetime.

Emotional violence is reported by 37% lifetime and 18% in the last 12 months. Controlling behaviour is the most prevalent form of IPV, affecting 68% of women lifetime and 44% in the past year. Economic violence is experienced by 20% of women lifetime and 11% in the last 12 months.  

The survey reveals that Barishal and Khulna divisions have the highest rates of violence, with 82% of women in Barishal and 81% in Khulna experiencing violence at least once in their lives. Chattogram division follows, while Dhaka and Sylhet divisions have the lowest rates, though still above 70%.