Recent rapes and violence against women and children in Bangladesh have raised concerns about public safety. In response, a new mobile application called HELP has been launched to combat violence against women, wherein volunteers will work alongside the police.
One of the most shocking incidents this year occurred in early March, when an eight-year-old girl visiting her sister’s in-laws’ house in Magura was raped and later died while receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
Another incident took place on March 9 in Keraniganj, where a four-month-pregnant woman was lured into an abandoned house and gang-raped.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra, there were 85 reported rapes in January and February, with four victims killed afterward and one committing suicide. Additionally, there were 19 attempted rapes, 26 cases of sexual harassment and 36 instances of physical assault reported.
To address this crisis, the government recently decided to introduce a shortcode service alongside the police hotline to prevent violence. This decision is part of four major initiatives taken by the government to digitalize the police.
Additionally, private organizations have joined these efforts alongside government agencies.
The Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) and Switch Bangladesh Foundation took the initiative to launch the HELP app, focusing on women's safety. The app-based service, launched in collaboration with the police, will initially help ensure the security of women in public transport.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced that any incident of violence against women recorded in the HELP (Harassment Elimination Literacy Program) app will be automatically considered an FIR (first information report). Volunteers will also be involved in operating the service.
How HELP works
HELP is a mobile application designed to ensure safety in public transport in Dhaka city, specifically developed for women using smartphones with internet access.
Women will be able to seek immediate assistance, report incidents and request emergency services in case of any harassment or sexual violence while travelling on public transport.
The service will be implemented as a pilot project on the Mohammadpur-Sayedabad route in Dhaka.
However, women from any part of the country can access the service on a limited scale.
QR codes will be installed on buses running along the Mohammadpur-Sayedabad route, and a separate team of volunteers will be deployed at educational institutions in the area.
This initiative aims to enable women to receive immediate assistance from both government services and volunteers in emergencies.
The application will also utilize GPS tracking to determine the woman's exact location and provide swift assistance. Additionally, volunteers will manually intervene when needed.
This app will make it easier for women to report incidents of sexual harassment and receive emergency support. HELP will connect users to the government's emergency helpline (999), the nearest police station, victim support centres, one-stop crisis centres and anti-violence cells.
This integration will help ensure both immediate assistance and a structured way to submit comprehensive reports with evidence.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman told this correspondent that the HELP app had been launched by a private organization to enhance women's security. “Through this app, women can directly report their complaints to the police,” he said.
ABM Mahmudul Hasan, founder of Youth Planet and media campaigner for the app, said: "Even though we have started the service on a limited scale, our goal is to expand it nationwide as soon as possible.”
“As a pilot project, it is being implemented on the Mohammadpur to Sayedabad route. If any woman faces harassment on this route, she can immediately seek help and file a complaint through the app. Upon receiving a complaint, the local police station will respond immediately, and our volunteers will also assist. Over time, women from any part of the country will be able to use the app to seek help in case of harassment," he added.
The DMP has said that incidents recorded in the app will be considered an FIR. However, Mahmudul believes that a thorough investigation should be conducted before registering a case to prevent innocent individuals from being wrongfully accused.
Expert opinion
Welcoming the initiative, Dr Md Tawohidul Haque, associate professor at the Dhaka University’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research and a criminology expert, highlighted the complexity of Bangladesh's legal process for addressing violence against women and rape, stressing the need for expedited justice.
"If swift trials are not ensured, it becomes difficult to achieve true justice,” he said.
“Victims often face financial and legal complications, and in some cases, innocent individuals are falsely implicated due to personal motives. Moreover, false accusations and biased investigations by police officers can hinder justice. Therefore, law enforcement must remain vigilant and carry out their duties with integrity."
Tawohidul also drew attention to the importance of conducting a meticulous preliminary investigation before the filing of any case. "There should be no room for doubt in the investigation process. Investigating officers must visit the scene, speak with relevant individuals and prepare a detailed report. This approach will protect innocent individuals from wrongful accusations while ensuring justice for victims."
