Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Mar 11: Despite ongoing protests against gender-based violence in Bangladesh, six more children were raped across six districts, as reported by local media on Tuesday. The alarming incidents highlight the deteriorating law and order situation under the interim government.

At least seven individuals were arrested on Monday in connection with these crimes. The victims, aged between six and fourteen, suffered horrific assaults. In a particularly tragic case, a teenage girl, who was sexually assaulted, took her own life after being shamed and falsely accused during a local arbitration meeting, according to The Daily Star.

The surge in sexual violence comes amid mass protests led by women’s rights activists, students, and teachers demanding justice and stricter punishment for offenders. Demonstrations erupted across the nation, fueled by outrage over the brutal assault of an eight-year-old girl in Magura, who remains in critical condition.

Calls for accountability intensified against Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, with Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob insisting on his dismissal rather than resignation. “Resignation is an honorable exit. He doesn’t deserve that honor,” she declared, as quoted.

The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, is under fire for failing to curb escalating violence against women. Political opposition groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, have criticized the administration’s inaction. BNP senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused the government of neglecting the worsening crisis, stating, “If the administration had functioned properly, incidents of rape, murder, and corruption would not have escalated.”

Echoing similar concerns, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Parwar painted a grim picture of the state of women’s safety, emphasizing that “women and children are not safe anywhere—whether on public transport, in offices, schools, or even their homes.”

Since Muhammad Yunus took office as interim leader in August 2024, reports of gender-based violence have surged. The government’s failure to address the crisis has ignited widespread protests, with students and activists demanding the resignation of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and holding the interim administration accountable for Bangladesh’s deteriorating security situation.