The Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh has strongly condemned the recent rape and murder of an eight-year-old schoolgirl in Mirpur, alongside the alarming rise in incidents of child rape and murder across the country, demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the coalition, a platform of organizations working to protect children’s rights, expressed deep concern, outrage, and grief over what it described as a “barbaric and shameful” pattern of violence against children.
The coalition said the killing of the girl, a second-grade student, reflects a disturbing trend of brutal crimes against children and constitutes a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Citing data from Ain o Salish Kendra, the coalition said that between January 1 and May 20, 2026, at least 118 children were raped, 46 were victims of attempted rape, and at least 17 children were killed either after being raped or following failed rape attempts.
It also referred to several recent incidents, including the rape of an eight-year-old in Muradnagar, Comilla, the gang rape of a 12-year-old in Daulatkhan, Bhola, and the brutal death of 12-year-old Imon in Haluaghat, Mymensingh, as evidence of a worsening national crisis.
The coalition said children are no longer safe either at home or outside due to structural deficiencies in social and moral education, lack of mutual respect, weak implementation of laws, and an overall lack of accountability.
It stressed that legal action alone is not enough and called for coordinated preventive efforts involving families, educational institutions, communities, and the state.
Among its key demands, the coalition called for the swift disposal of all cases involving violence against children, bringing such cases under speedy trial tribunals, and ensuring visible accountability to restore public confidence in the state’s ability to provide security.
It also urged families to foster trust-based relationships with children so they can report abuse without fear, and called for the formation and effective functioning of sexual harassment prevention committees in all educational institutions.
The coalition further recommended stricter parental supervision of children’s internet use, greater awareness of digital safety, inclusion of child rights and self-protection education in school curricula, and increased awareness among children about emergency helplines 1098 and 999.
It also demanded the activation of community-based child protection committees at every ward level across the country.
The coalition thanked the government and law enforcement agencies for the swift arrest of the prime accused and his accomplices in the Mirpur murder case. However, it urged authorities to ensure a transparent, accountable investigation and visible prosecution to secure the highest possible punishment and set a legal precedent.
It also called on the state to stand beside slain girl's family and ensure long-term psychological and social rehabilitation for all affected children and their families.
The coalition said its protest and advocacy efforts would continue until justice is fully served.