Dhaka: Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has condemned the repeated incidents of rape, abuse, and killing of women and children across the country. The human rights organisation also expressed deep shock and outrage over the reported rape and killing of a seven-year-old child in Jamalpur's Madarganj.
According to United News of Bangladesh, police reported that the child was sexually assaulted and killed, and her body was later recovered from beneath the floor of a house. MJF condemned this violence and expressed sympathy to the child's family. The Jamalpur case cannot be treated as an isolated crime, MJF stated.
Recent reports of rape, sexual abuse, harassment, and killing of women and children across Bangladesh point to an alarming pattern. The question remains: are children and women safe in homes, schools, educational institutions, and communities, and are those responsible brought to justice without delay?
Recent data reinforce the seriousness of the situation. In August 2026, the Human Rights Support Society recorded violence against at least 249 women and children, including 79 rape victims, 46 of whom were children. Ain o Salish Kendra also reported that at least 400 women were raped between January and July 2026, with 37 killed after rape. These figures represent reported cases and may not reflect the full extent of the violence.
Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said the repeated rape, abuse, and killing of women and children is deeply alarming and unacceptable. She emphasized the importance of ensuring safety for children in their homes, schools, and communities. Anam highlighted the necessity for prompt investigation, accountability, and stronger protection systems.
MJF has consistently maintained that protection cannot depend solely on action after a crime has occurred. It has called for violence against women and children to be treated with the urgency of a national emergency and for stronger preventive measures, including functioning Sexual Harassment Committees in madrasas and other educational institutions.
MJF calls on the relevant authorities to ensure prompt and impartial investigation, fair and timely prosecution, and accountability in every case. Survivors and affected families must have access to medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and protection, with their privacy and dignity respected.
The Jamalpur case must not become another tragedy that fades from public attention. MJF calls for sustained action by the State, institutions, and society to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of women and children.