Violence against women: An epidemic of injustice

Since 2016, every time the nation needed to be reminded about the dire state of women's rights, Sohagi Jahan Tonu's name has always found its way at the forefront of protests. Slogans with the words, "We are Tonu" and pictures of her warm smile are now etched onto signs that are carried in rallies. Tonu became the symbol of how women are systematically denied basic rights, safety and justice. 

Nine years have passed but her case remains stuck in the web of bureaucracy. 

Every now and then, when we see another woman abused and harassed, her name appears again in protests as a dark reminder of our system's failure towards women, and even then, these protests go unheard, barely bringing a spark of change in women's rights. 

Earlier this year, in March, Bangladesh's streets erupted once again in protest, this time for the eight-year-old child who was raped in Magura by her sister's brother-in-law and father-in-law. 

The horror does not stop there. In 2021, the bodies of Hashi Begum and her son were recovered from a lake, which was being weighed down by bricks. Hashi had begged mediators not to make her go back with her husband, Rubel, who tortured her. Not long afterwards, she and her son were strangled to death.

Incident after incident proves that there is not a single safe corner for women, be it in the privacy of their home or the hands of law enforcement. Despite years of protests, violence against women appears to be an epidemic in our society that resists every possible cure that public policies try to inject into it. 

"When victims do not get justice, it means that there are not enough exemplary cases either. When a perpetrator is given exemplary punishment, there is a deterrent effect, and that effect is not there."

Barrister Miti Sanjana

According to data collected by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh's rape cases reached approximately 481 cases by July 2025, almost meeting the total number of rape cases reported throughout 2024. But these numbers only reflect reported cases.

These numbers, however, only touched on the sexual abuse aspect of violence against women. The term, however, also extends to physical and psychological harm as well as acts that deprive women of their freedom.

The same data collection also revealed that murder was the second most prominent form of violence that women endure, with reports of 320 women and girls killed. 

It is crucial to note that women's rights issues do not stay limited to 50% of the population; they affect the country's economy, making it unable to reach its full potential.

The answer as to why women have been subjected to the worst forms of violence throughout the years is not that straightforward. From public and legal spaces to their private lives, women face discrimination in every aspect of life.  

Even though only a fraction of the cases of violence against women are reported, even fewer are resolved.

The justice system does not lend a hand towards women either. Even though many laws exist that can support women, the legal system makes it almost impossible to get access to justice. 

"The justice system is not women-friendly. Starting from the GD that has to be filed, women face different types of harassment throughout the whole process," shared Barrister Miti Sanjana.

"Even though measures have been taken to introduce a women's unit as well as to dedicate a female officer who can interview the victim, these facilities are not always available. Be it the law or access to justice, the whole system is very misogynistic and patriarchal."

While hotlines and shelters for women do exist, limited resources often lead to delayed response times and insufficient capacity.

Barrister Sanjana also shared that among the reported cases, only a fraction of the perpetrators get convicted, meaning victims are not getting justice.

"When victims do not get justice, it means that there are not enough exemplary cases either. When a perpetrator is given exemplary punishment, there is a deterrent effect, and that effect is not there," shared Barrister Sanjana.

Additionally, legal processes are generally very lengthy and costly, leaving the victim financially and mentally drained. 

Furthermore, a flawed society perhaps plays the biggest role in violence against women. In both their homes and in the public space, women are judged and discriminated against, giving way to violent acts against them. 

Many women fear the repercussions that may follow seeking help from an abusive situation, including becoming a social pariah or worse, being forced to go back with their abuser, which was what happened with Hashi Begum. 

In today's time, the public space has broadened even more, now including cyberspace as well. This has given rise to incidents of harassment and stalking, and it poses an equally high risk to women's and girls' safety. Even though cyberspace is an intangible space, cyberbullying can have a detrimental impact on women's mental health. 

According to a report by BSS in 2024, 70% of women are victims of cyberbullying. However, bullying is not cognizable in court, which leaves many of these cases in a grey area. 

However, to combat this, Bangladesh Police introduced Police Cyber Support for Women in 2020, a cyber support service dedicated to supporting women.

Additionally, the media plays a huge role in shaping the way society views women. 

"Women are not represented properly in the media. For a long time, they have been represented as homemakers. As they eventually joined the workforce through jobs such as garment workers, the number of women in the workforce has increased. However, they are always presented as mothers, wives, sisters, or even sex objects and products," shared Taslima Akhter, activist and photographer.

Depicting women without individuality or agency reinforces the harmful notion that they are less than fully human.

Taslima further elaborates how women are not viewed as citizens who deserve equal rights, and when the media reinforces that, the repercussions of violence against women do not seem too bad, which is deeply alarming.

The solution requires many different sectors to come together in order to eradicate this epidemic.

Barrister Sanjana notes how taking proper measures will result in a tangible outcome, as she recalls how the proper enforcement of laws has helped reduce acid attacks significantly. However, she believes the same measures have not been taken for cases such as domestic violence.

"We have not created exemplary punishments for cases of domestic violence, so we must do so, while also introducing significant reforms. Recently, many judicial reforms were proposed, and I believe many good points were made. It included points such as training lawyers so they can handle cases efficiently, as well as decentralising the judiciary system as much as possible," commented Barrister Sanjana. 

She further emphasises the importance of educating yourself about your rights, reflecting how many do not know that violence against women also extends to psychological abuse. 

Taslima believes that many laws need to be amended so that they support women. She further shares that to empower women, they have to be provided with more resources.

"Women are a huge part of the working force, but there are hardly any childcare facilities available. Women need maternity leaves and childcare centres," shared Taslima.

"The stereotypes of viewing women as wives, mothers, and objects need to change, too. We want to see women as individuals, having integral roles in society while bringing prominent changes."

Victims also need access to facilities such as shelters that prioritise their safety and mental health. 

Violence against women in Bangladesh is not just a crisis of law enforcement or policy; it is a reflection of deep-rooted societal failures. True change demands more than protests; it requires a radical shift in how society views and values women — as individuals, as citizens and as equals.

This article has been produced in association with Badabon Sangho.