In a deeply disturbing development, Bangladesh is witnessing an epidemic-level surge in rape cases, particularly targeting Hindu and other minority women and girls.
A new report by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has laid bare the shocking reality: 342 rape cases were reported in just the first three months of 2025, with a staggering 87 per cent of the victims being minors. Among them, even infants and toddlers have not been spared.
This disturbing trend has raised serious concerns over the safety of minority communities, the rule of law, and the failure of the current Yunus-led government to protect its most vulnerable citizens. The statistics are not just numbers, they point to a systemic and targeted pattern of abuse that demands urgent national and international attention.
A Silent Emergency
The HRCBM report reveals that the bulk of the reported cases come from regions with significant Hindu and indigenous populations, such as Chattogram Hill Tracts, Khulna, Barisal, and Sylhet. Victims and their families frequently face not only physical trauma but also social ostracism, intimidation, and institutional silence. Police complaints often go unregistered or are met with apathy, and legal proceedings, if any, are sluggish or manipulated.
What is even more alarming is the age profile of the victims: a majority are under 16, and some are as young as six months. The brutal nature of these assaults points to a breakdown in both moral and institutional safeguards, with many cases involving gang rapes, abductions, and subsequent forced conversions.
State Complicity or Criminal Negligence?
Human rights activists are increasingly pointing to the complicity or inaction of law enforcement agencies. In many instances, the accused are linked to ruling party members or extremist groups, which allegedly guarantees them immunity. Victims’ families report being threatened to withdraw cases or “settle” them outside of court.
The Yunus administration, which came to power promising reforms, transparency, and protection for all citizens, has failed to address the rising communal violence and gender-based crimes. Rights groups say the regime’s indifference emboldens perpetrators.
Despite multiple calls from civil society organisations, no concrete steps have been taken to establish a fast-track court system for sexual violence cases or to increase protection for vulnerable communities. Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to issue an official response to the HRCBM’s findings.
A Community Under Siege
For Bangladesh’s dwindling Hindu population, now estimated at less than 7 per cent of the total population, the escalating violence is not just a legal issue but an existential one. Many are considering emigration, fearing that their daughters and sisters will never be safe in a country where justice is elusive and perpetrators walk free.
The HRCBM’s report is a wake-up call to the Yunus government, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh. It is also a reminder to the global community that women and children from minority groups remain the most vulnerable in volatile political landscapes.
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