Sexual violence against minorities in Bangladesh at ‘pandemic levels’, says rights body

Dhaka: The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has warned of a surge in sexual violence in Bangladesh, describing it as having reached “pandemic proportions” under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The organization said the crisis has disproportionately affected women and children from Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and other minority communities.

Citing figures from Dhaka-based rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (AsK), HRCBM noted that 342 rape cases were officially reported in the first quarter of 2025, with 87 per cent of the victims being under 18. Among them, 40 were children aged six or younger, while incidents of gang rape were reportedly increasing, mostly targeting minors.

According to HRCBM these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of cases remain unreported due to stigma, fear of reprisals and mistrust in the justice system. It alleged that religious bias in law enforcement and the courts further deters minority families from seeking justice.

The group also cited instances of extreme brutality, including the discovery of headless female bodies, and accused the state of inaction and complicity.

Highlighting the plight of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot who has been in prison since November on what HRCBM called “fabricated charges”, the body said his prolonged detention reflects a broader pattern of repression and legal mockery.

HRCBM has filed a Public Interest Litigation before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, demanding an urgent judicial inquiry into the rising cases of sexual violence. It called for accountability, structural reforms and special protections for minority women and girls, who it said remain especially vulnerable to targeted attacks.