These appear in police records only when cases are registered regarding incidents of oppression against women. Police headquarters records say a total of 16,000 to 22,000 cases were registered from 2018 to 2023. That means an average of 20,000 cases are registered every year.
Only when incidents of atrocities are at their peak do they come to light in the media. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad collected information about 35 types of violence against women from newspapers last year. The number of tortured women and children was around 3000. In the first two months of this year, the number was more than 200.
Records from human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) show that 574 women were raped last year and others were murdered after rape. and 207 were killed by their husbands. A total of 142 people were victims of sexual harassment. And 10 were victims of acid throwing.
Last year, 26,797 complaints of female harassment were made directly to the National Emergency Service number 999.
Women also face online harassment and mental torture. According to Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW) records, more than 12,000 complaints were filed in the last 15 months regarding fake IDs being opened online, ID hacking, fraud, harassment on mobile phones and spreading of objectionable content.
Minister of State for Women and Children Affairs Simin Hussein (Rimi), speaking to Prothom Alo on March 18, said her ministry is working on creating awareness on preventing violence against women, women empowerment and legal aid. But, he admitted, this was not enough to meet demand.