Statements like 'Why did you go out alone at night?,' Why aren’t you wearing a scarf?', 'Bad girls sit at tea stalls at night,' or 'You talk about women’s rights, so you must be a Shahbaghi' are just a few examples of the countless derogatory remarks women face in public spaces.
Every day, violence against women is increasing, changing its form, and intensifying fear.
At the same time, women are raising their voices on social media, but they are also becoming victims of cyberbullying.
In response to these recurring incidents, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, said in a press briefing: "The government has repeatedly made its stance clear that there is no place for mob violence or moral policing in this country. The government has always taken a strong position against such acts."
However, human rights and women’s rights activists argue that while the government speaks firmly, its actions do not reflect the same level of commitment. This inaction has become a major cause for concern.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra, in February, 46 women were victims of rape in the country, 22 of whom were under 18. In January, this number was 39, including 15 minors.
A report from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on violence against women revealed that 70% of women in the country have faced violence at least once in their lives.
Over the past decade, sexual violence against women has increased by 1.3%. In 2015, the rate of sexual violence was 27.2%, which has risen to 28.5% in 2024.
Despite the rise in violence against women, women’s rights organizations appear to be less active. Instead, statements from certain networks and individual initiatives are more noticeable.
In response to the situation, the University Teachers' Network issued a statement highlighting that: "Post-uprising Bangladesh has seen an increase in sexual violence, harassment, hatred, and other forms of oppression against women. Women are being humiliated in various ways across different social spheres. Every act of oppression and injustice must be investigated, judged, and punished properly."
The statement also said that nine female students at Chittagong University were expelled in an undemocratic and authoritarian manner, which they see as an example of systematic oppression against women.
They further said: "The practice of mob injustice is not only continuing but increasing, and now, two university students have become victims of this trend."
Expressing concern over "politically motivated sexual violence against women online," 52 women in the country issued a statement demanding legal action.
On the question of whether the situation is concerning for women, Zeenat Ara Haque of the "Amrai Pari" told Bangla Tribune: "Marginalized people fall into uncertainty after any natural or man-made disaster and change. In Bangladesh, another phenomenon has been added to this—religious extremism is being nurtured. The government's stance on women's issues is unclear. They do speak out, but there is no visible action. As a result, following the July movement, women’s stakes in society have been made invisible. This state and system are showing us that they are neither women-friendly nor sensitive to women’s issues."
She does not believe that women’s rights organizations are inactive, but she feels that many refrain from protesting for fear of being labeled as fascists.
She added: "In the politics of blaming each other, there is no neutral and independent image left for people to speak up. We have reached a stage in the women’s movement where discussing issues like wearing a scarf is no longer relevant. This has created confusion within organizations as well."
Human rights activist and member of the Disappearance Commission, Nur Khan, believes that a small group with political motives deliberately creates these instabilities in various ways.
On the question of why women’s rights organizations are not active, he also pointed to fears surrounding mob justice. He said: "Everyone is afraid of the mob."
