A seven-month-old baby girl was allegedly killed by her father in Dhaka's Turag area on July 16, while four days later, a nine-year-old girl in Satkhira was allegedly strangled to death by a neighbor seeking to steal her gold earrings.
Though the incidents occurred separately, child rights advocates say they reflect a growing pattern of children falling victim to violence at the hands of people they know and trust.
Recent incidents have reinforced these concerns. In March, an eight-year-old child in Sitakunda, Chittagong, was allegedly abducted by a neighbor who attempted to rape the child before killing them. Another eight-year-old in Dhaka's Pallabi area was raped and murdered. In both cases, the accused were known to the victims and their families.
Statistics
According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a total of 2,776 children were killed in Bangladesh between January 2021 and June 2026—an average of 42 child deaths every month. During the same period, 474 children were killed within their own families, while 566 died after being physically abused. ASK also documented at least 4,311 children who experienced 20 different forms of violence.
In the first six months of 2026 alone, 195 children were killed. Among them, 76 were aged between 13 and 16, while 49 were between seven and 12, and 61 were under six years old. Only 59 cases were filed in connection with the killings, raising concerns about accountability and access to justice.
ASK recorded 596 child killings in 2021; 516 in 2022; 485 in 2023; 574 in 2024; and 410 in 2025. Although the annual figures fluctuated, experts said the nature of the crimes had become increasingly severe, including rape followed by murder, domestic violence resulting in death, kidnapping, abuse of child house helps, and sexual violence by trusted adults.
Data from Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) showed that 291 children experienced violence in June 2026 alone. Among them, 54 died, 237 suffered physical or psychological abuse, and 75 were victims of rape. Human rights organizations believe the actual number is higher because many incidents go unreported due to social stigma, family pressure, fear of retaliation, and limited confidence in the justice system.
Why children remain vulnerable
Experts said violence against children stems from multiple social, economic, and psychological factors, including family conflict, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and weak child protection systems. Many cases occur after prolonged abuse within the home.
Psychiatrist Dr Bulbul Ahmed Khan said: "Exposure to domestic violence affects brain development, lowers self-confidence, creates fear and insecurity, and increases the risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior, and violent tendencies later in life. Domestic violence is not only a family issue; it is also a major public health concern."
Child protection organizations also noted that many families avoid discussing body safety, personal boundaries, and the concepts of "good touch" and "bad touch," leaving children unable to recognize abuse or reluctant to report it.
Changing social risks
Professor Rasheda Nasir of the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka said rapid urbanization, the decline of extended families, the rise of nuclear households, online addiction, drug abuse, and violent digital content had created new risks for children.
She said: "Many children now spend long hours without adequate adult supervision or are left in the care of house helps, relatives, or neighbors, making them more vulnerable to abuse. At the same time, social media and online games have increased children's exposure to cyber grooming, blackmail, and online sexual exploitation."
Professor Sumaiya Iqbal of the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka said child abuse was driven by multiple interconnected factors, including family conflict, poor parental mental health, substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, financial stress, and limited awareness of children's rights.
She said legal punishment alone could not solve the problem and added: "Preventing child abuse requires positive parenting, families that listen to children, and zero tolerance for physical or emotional violence. Schools should strengthen child protection education, while families facing domestic violence, addiction, mental health challenges, or severe financial hardship should receive timely social and government support. Communities must also play a stronger role in identifying risks before children become victims."
Calls for stronger protection
Advocate Sifat Nahar said violence against children was not only a criminal offense but also a violation of fundamental human rights. She said: "Every place where a child spends time, including the home, school, and workplace, must be safe."
She added: "Every allegation of child abuse should be investigated promptly and impartially, and offenders must face fair trials and appropriate punishment. Child protection must be treated as a national priority through coordinated efforts involving families, schools, law enforcement agencies, local government institutions, social service providers, and civil society."
Bangladesh has enacted several laws and policies to protect children, including the Children Act 2013, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, and its commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
However, child rights organizations argue that weak implementation, slow investigations, and lengthy judicial processes continue to undermine these protections.
Experts said justice alone would not be enough to prevent child abuse. They stressed that every case should be examined to identify its underlying causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Shared responsibility
Md Saifullah, PPM, assistant inspector general (Crime Analysis), urged parents and guardians to report suspected child abuse immediately. He said: "Parents should stay involved in their children's daily lives, pay close attention to both their online and offline activities, and work with local communities to help create a safer environment for children."
The deaths of the infant in Turag, the child in Satkhira, and hundreds of other children across Bangladesh highlight broader concerns over child safety.
Experts say protecting children requires positive parenting, effective enforcement of child protection laws, quality education, stronger community support, timely justice, and a culture in which children are heard, respected, and protected.